Basic Vocab

Question 1

Illuviation

Answer 1

Gains or Inputs of matter into a horizon. Illuviated into B horizons. Think immigration

Question 2

Eluviation

Answer 2

Loss or exodus of matter from a horizon, often from A or E

Question 3

Alluvium

Answer 3

Sediment deposition from water

Question 4

Relict Soil

Answer 4

Ancient soils formed in environments different than todays

Question 5

Buried soil

Answer 5

Soil covered by younger sediment and rock

Question 6

Paleosols

Answer 6

Ancient souls that have been preserved in geological record

Question 7

Exhumed soil

Answer 7

Soil brought to the surface from deeper

Question 8

Polygenetic soil

Answer 8

Soils with multiple chemical, mineral, and morphological characteristics. Different parent materials

Question 9

Primary minerals

Answer 9

Formed from cooling magma/lava or precipitated from water

Question 10

Secondary minerals

Answer 10

Minerals formed by soil processes

Question 11

CLORPT or CORPT

Answer 11

Climate, relief, parent materials, organisms, time

Question 12

Humus

Answer 12

Dark, nutrient Rick organic material formed from composition of plants and animals… good for holding water

Question 13

Toposequence

Answer 13

Soils that occur in a series of sites on the slope, with similar soils types and conditions

Question 14

Physical weathering

Answer 14

Makes particles smaller

Freeze thaw, Exfoliation (cracks from erosion) Salt cristal growth (expand and break rock), abrasion (wind water ice loaded with sediment), roots and borrowing animals

Question 15

Chemical weathering

Answer 15

Changes composition

Carbon dioxide (acids & chemical reactions)

Solution
Hyrodlisis
Oxidation

Question 16

Diagenesis

Answer 16

Any weathering of geological materials after initials deposition. Not always at earth surface.

Question 17

Pedogenesis

Answer 17

Soil formation, sub category of diagenesis that occurs at or near surface

Question 18

Comminution

Answer 18

Breaking into small pieces

Question 19

Physical weathering examples

Answer 19

Freeze thaw, Wet Dry, Insolation, Fire, Falls impacts bioturbation etc

Question 20

Chemical weathering Processes

Answer 20

Dissolution, Oxidation/Reduction (redox), Hydrolysis, Ion exchange

Question 21

Dissolution (Chem)

Answer 21

Joint sets can be enhanced by chemical weathering. Natural feature of many rocks

Question 22

Redox (Chem)

Answer 22

Oxidation- Oxic environments above water table. Oxidized fe3+ usually red or brown

Reduction- anoxic environments, water saturated
-minerals usually grey
-Reduced Fe2+ minerals green to blue (gley)

Question 23

Hydrolysis

Answer 23

H+ and OH ions break bonds with crystal lattices

-Dissociated water molecules
-removals of ions from lattice, replacement by H or OH

Breaks apart, distorts, forma new lattices

Question 24

Ion exchange

Answer 24

Like hydrolysis, but with ions besides H+
-important with clay
-cation exchange capacity- estimate of number of charge sites available to exchange or bind to different cations

Question 25

Saprolite

Answer 25

Chemically weathered rock “rotten rock” that retains original structure. Common in lower soil profiles

Question 26

Regolith

Answer 26

Loose on consolidated rock and dust that sits atop a layer of bedrock. On earth includes soil

Question 27

Felsic Rock

Answer 27

Igneous rocks that are high in silicon, aluminum, potassium, oxigen, and sodium. Lighter, less dense then magic rocks. Granite Rich in feldspar and quartz More resistant to chemical weathering

Question 28

Magic Rock

Answer 28

Igneous rock rich in magnesium and iron, dark in color Basalt, gabbro Weather faster than felsic because olivine and pyroxene are more susceptible to chemical weathering

Question 29

Sedimentary rock

Answer 29

Forma from depositions preexisting rock and sediment, dead organisms. Layering. Sandstone, limestone

Question 30

Igneous Rock

Answer 30

Formed when magma cools and solidifies Can be intrusive (below ground) or extrusive (above ground)

Question 31

Metamorphic Rocks

Answer 31

When other rocks are subjected to intense heat or pressure

Question 32

Mesic

Answer 32

Soil with moderate amount of moisture, between wet and dry. Drains well but not completely Prairies and savanna’s

Question 33

Thermic

Answer 33

Between 15c and 22c Not to hot or cold

Question 34

Torric

Answer 34

Aridic moisture regime, dry and often requiring irrigation

Question 35

Xeric

Answer 35

Dry soil, low moisture levels

Question 36

Cryic

Answer 36

So cold it makes you cry

Question 37

6 ecological functions of soils

Answer 37

1 medium for plant growth 2 water regulation 3 nutrient cycling 4 habitat for organisms 5 atmospheric modification 6 carbon storage

Question 38

4 soil components

Answer 38

Mineral matter (45%) Air (25%) Water (25%) Organic matter (5%)