soil formation

• the three main components of soil are minerals, organic matter, and water/air
• soil comes from the weathering and ageing of parent materials
• what are the three groups of rocks?

  Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
• how is and igneous rock formed?

  Through the solidification and crystallization of molten magma or lava.
• example of igneous rocks are granite and basalt
• how are sedimentary rocks formed?

  formed when igneous rocks are broken down into smaller pieces which are then compacted and cemented together
• example of sedimentary rocks are limestone, sandstone, shale, and clay
• how are metamorphic rocks formed?

  intense Heat and pressure on igneous or sedimentary rocks
• example of metamorphic rocks are marble and slate
• types of physical weathering?

  heating and cooling, freezing, activity of animals, grinding action
• how does heating and cooling have an effect of physical weathering?

  temperature can cause minerals in rock to expand
• what effect does freezing have on physical weathing?

  water fills in the cracks when it turns to ice it expands causing rocks to shatter
• types of chemical weathering?

  Hydration, oxidation, carbonation, hydrolysis.
• what is carbonation?

  addition of carbon dioxide to a rock
• what is hydration?

  the addition of water to a rock
• what is oxidation?

  addition of oxygen
• a basin peat are flat bogs that have developed in hollows in the landscape where there is a mineral rich water supply
• raised bogs form when material accumulates on top of a basin
• blanket bogs develop in areas of high rainfall and low evaporation in anaerobic conditions
• where are blanket bogs found?

  in mountainous areas along the west coast of ireland
• factors that affect soil formation?

  parent material, climate, time, topography, living organisms