Soil Comp & Properties
complex mixture of disintegrated rock, organic remains/waste, water, gases, minerals, and microorganisms.
soil
The removal of soil by wind or water.
erosion
Any discarded solid material.
solid waste
a flammable gas made by decomposing organic waste; it can seep into soil or homes and may ignite/explode.
methane
What are two examples of metallic minerals that can be mined?
copper, iron, lead, gold, silver, aluminum.
What is full of holes but still holds water?
Sponge
three main soil textures.
sand, silt, clay
When fertile land turns into desert.
desertification
process of allowing plant waste to decompose into a dark brown material that can be used in gardens to enrich soil
composting
What is lechate?
liquid that passes through compacted waste; trash juice
mining that removes material from the surface
surface mining
What month of the year has 28 days?
all of them
a perfect balance between sand, silt, and clay is this type of soil
loamy
the buildup of salts in the surface layers of soil. It can happen from poor irrigation, drought, high evaporation, or climate change, and it can reduce crop yields and damage soil structure.
What is salinization?
waste produced by households & businesses is called this
municipal solid waste
a kind of substance which cannot be broken down by natural organisms and acts as a source of pollution
non biodegradable material
mining that uses tunnels underground.
subsurface mining
What invention lets you look right through a wall?
window
Why does sandy soil not hold water or nutrients well?
Sand has large/coarse particles, so water and air pass through easily, but it does not retain nutrients or water well.
Name two causes of desertification listed in the notes.
Poor farming practices, overgrazing, tilling, deforestation, improper irrigation, droughts, or climate change
How should you dispose of a banana peel?
composting
Trash (landfill)
restoring land disturbed by mining to a stable, productive, and safe condition is called
- restoration
- reformation
- recalibration
- reclamation
reclamation
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
Seven
How much water soil is able to hold is called
- porosity
- permeability
- viscosity
- hydrosity
porosity
What is crop rotation?
Changing the type of crop grown from one season or year to another
hazardous waste site
How should you dispose of a glass mason jar?
recycling
clears plants and soil, uses explosives to reach coal seams, destroys habitats, increases erosion, and can pollute water with sediment or mining runoff.
mountaintop removal
What begins with an “e” and only contains one letter?
An envelope
How easily water is able to move through soil is called
permeability
Explain two causes and two effects of desertification.
Causes may include poor farming, overgrazing, deforestation, improper irrigation, droughts, or climate change.
Effects include loss of fertility, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, poverty/economic loss, migration, and more CO₂ release.
Explain two problems with incinerating trash.
air pollution and ash
What is name of the act that sues people for illegal dumping?
Superfund Act
What is acid mine drainage, and how does it affect streams and rivers?
Acid mine drainage happens when water reacts with sulfide minerals exposed by mining, creating acidic water that can dissolve metals and contaminate streams/rivers.
What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?
silence