Show:
Minerals
Rocks
Weathering
Soil
Soil Conservation
100
A mineral is inorganic. What does this mean?
It did not come from a living thing.
100
When rocks break down into smaller pieces, the pieces are called _______________.
Sediment
100
Weathering is the process that ____________________________________________.
breaks down rock and other substances.
100
The solid rock under soil is called __________________.
Bedrock
100
If someone is trying to conserve soil and practicing soil conservation, what are they trying to do?
Prevent the soil's destruction so that it can continue to have plants grow in it. They want the soil to last.
200
A ____________ is formed when different minerals come together.
Rock
200
In the rock cycle, these kinds of rocks can turn into metamorphic rock through heat and pressure.
Igneous and Sedimentary
200
Describe one type of mechanical weathering and how it weathers rocks.
release of pressure, freezing and thawing, animal actions, plant growth, abrasion
200
What is the order that the soil horizons a,b and c form? and Describe what makes up one of the horizons.
Horizon C forms first as bedrock weathers into soil. Horizon A forms second as plants and organic material form topsoil. Horizon B forms third when clay and minerals are washed down and subsoil forms.
200
If one area of soil is very fertile, and the other area has lost its fertility, would plants grow differently in the two areas? How?
An area that is very fertile would have lots of nutrients in the soil and plants would grow well. An area that has lots its fertility would not have as many nutrients in the soil and the plants wouldn't be able to grow well.
300
What are three characteristics of minerals?
- Naturally occurring - Inorganic solid - Formed on or beneath the earth's surface - Crystal shape - Definite chemical composition
300
Magma is melted ____________, and when it cools, it turns into __________________.
rock; an igneous rock
300
How is chemical weathering different from mechanical weathering?
- chemical weathering breaks down rocks through chemicals, not physical actions. - in chemical weathering, a change takes place to the original rock.
300
What is humus made out of?
decayed organic material such as plant and animal remains
300
What can cause loss of topsoil?
When the soils is exposed, and plants and roots aren't holding it together, water and wind can cause erosion by carrying the topsoil away.
400
Granite is an igneous rock made up of the minerals Hornblende, mica, feldspar, and quartz. Igneous come from a latin word that means what?
Ignis means fire or flame.
400
Describe how a sedimentary rock forms. Be as detailed as possible.
Weathering occurs which breaks down rock into sediment. Through erosion the sediment is carried away and is then deposited, often in layers. They layers experience strong pressure which causes them to cement together into a sedimentary rock.
400
Where would one be more likely to find the chemical weathering of acid rain, in a city or in a forest? Explain your answer.
A city because acid rain is caused when pollutants and chemical compounds in the atmosphere mix with water vapor in clouds to form acids. Cities have factories, motor vehicles and burn fossil fuels. These all contribute to acid rain, while forests do not produce or send off these compounds into the atmosphere.
400
Describe at least one way how topsoil and subsoil are different.
Topsoil is found on the surface of the ground in Horizon A, while subsoil is found below the topsoil in Horizon B. Topsoil contains lots of humus, while subsoil does not.
400
Describe one method of soil conservation.
Contour plowing - plowing along the curves of a slope to water doesn't wash soil away. Conservation plowing - not removing the old dead plants from a field, but letting them decay and turn into humus in the soil. Crop rotation - planting different types of crops in fields every year because different crops absorb and produce different nutrients. Planting legumes (beans and peanuts) - These plants add nitrogen to the soil and help to make it more fertile.
500
What is one mineral and what crystal shape will it always form, whether big or small.
Halite (nacl - table salt) forms cubes Magnesium Sulfate (MgS04 - epsom salt) forms rectangular prisms.
500
How is a rock like a cookie?
Rocks are made up of lots of different minerals like cookies are made up of lots of different ingredients. Minerals, on the other hand, are not like cookies because they are made up of only one ingredient.
500
What is one way the rate of weathering can be increased? Explain why this increases the rate of weathering.
Increase surface area (break into pieces) - This exposes more rock to the weathering. Increase temperature - chemical reactions occur faster in warmer temperatures Put a rock in a rainy climate - More rain increases both mechanical and chemical weathering. Choose Rock type - certain rocks dissolve faster than other rocks.
500
What are the creatures called that break down dead plants and animals? Additionally, what is type of creature that does this?
Decomposers such as fungi, bacteria, worms, and mites break down organic material into humus so plants can absorb the nutrients.
500
Describe what happened in the Dust Bowl.
As new American immigrants moved west into the Great Plains, they plowed soil to start farms. A big draught (period of no rain) caused the topsoil to dry out and turn to dust. Periods of strong winds caused erosion and blew the soil east all the way to New York City.