Types of soil
This soil doesn't hold water well, but is good for root vegetables. It is the most used natural resource in the world after water.
Sand
A solid material that is moved and deposited in a new location. It can be rocks, minerals, remains of plants and animals. The size can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a boulder.
Sediment
Form from the cooling and hardening of molten magma. These rocks can form by cooling slowly beneath the surface or more quickly at the surface.
Igneous
This type of rock can have fossils in it.
Sedimentary
This soil holds water really well and is good for growing corn. It is good for making pottery and construction materials like bricks and tiles.
Clay
A process that changes large pieces of earth into smaller pieces. Water, ice and growing plants are all examples of this action.
Weathering
Form by the compaction and cementing together of sediments. These rocks can be formed from erosion and weathering of other rocks.
Sedimentary
This term refers to melted rock in a liquid form.
Magma
This soil is best for gardening and landscaping. It is great for erosion control due to its balance of sand, silt and clay.
Loam
True or False. Rivers erode and deposit sediment.
True
Form when minerals in an existing rock are changed by heat and pressure. The minerals can realign to become foliated.
Metamorphic
An igneous rock formed when magma solidifies at the Earth’s surface. May have air bubble pockets as gas gets trapped in the quickly cooling rock.
Extrusive
This soil is highly acidic and great for carnivorous plants to grow in. Its high absorbency is good for spill clean ups. It is also used to improve soil quality, by increasing moisture retention and reducing compaction.
Peat
Sand, Loam and Peat are examples of this type of soil.
Topsoil
These processes help transform sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock.
Heat and Pressure
An igneous rock formed when magma solidifies below the Earth’s surface. It cools at a slower rate.
Intrusive Rock
This layer of soil contains organic matter mixed with minerals, plant roots and other organisms, like Earthworms.
Topsoil