Geology Interlude B

Which of the following best describes the term sediment?

loose fragments of rocks and minerals broken off bedrock or precipitated from water

The accumulation of sediments that are found on top of the Earth's bedrock is known as

cover.

Sediment formation is the result of __________ at the Earth's surface.

weathering

Why does physical weathering speed up the processes of chemical weathering?

Physical weathering produces more surface area for chemical weathering to attack.

Weathering results in

smaller, more-rounded pieces.

What type of phenomenon is demonstrated by the vertical lines in this picture?

jointing

What type of weathering has produced the honeycomb-like features shown in the following photo?

salt wedging

What type of weathering has created the onion-like layers in the rocks in the below picture?

jointing

Which of the following is a type of physical weathering?

rocks breaking apart into smaller pieces along joints and other fractures

What type of weathering are you most likely to find occurring in areas with cold climates?

frost wedging

What type of weathering are you most likely to find occurring near an ocean?

salt wedging

Chemical weathering involves the breakdown of material due to

interaction with water or air.

Dissolution occurs when minerals

are dissolved into water.

Hydration occurs when minerals

absorb water and expand.

Which type of weathering process is happening to materials when they rust?

oxidation

Which types of minerals are most likely to experience oxidation during chemical weathering?

iron minerals such as biotite and pyrite

The zone of leaching is the area in which

minerals are dissolved and removed from soil.

Climate, substrate, slope, time, and organisms are all factors that influence _______.

soil formation

The Dust Bowl of the 1930s is an example of what hazard to soils and the roles they play in society?

soil erosion

Below is a photo of an outcrop where bedrock, unconsolidated sediments, and soil are all visible. Which of the three materials is youngest?

A

The following image shows a natural outcropping of bedrock, soil, and unconsolidated sediment. Match the letter on the image with the appropriate term.

A - soil, B - unconsolidated sediment, C - bedrock

The image below shows an idealized soil profile divided into soil horizons. Where in the horizon is caliche or calcrete found?

Horizon B

The image below shows an idealized soil profile divided up into soil horizons. Where in the horizon is extensive leaching found?

Horizon E

This image shows a chemical reaction that is primarily responsible for the chemical deterioration of limestone. Which form of chemical weathering does the figure show?

dissolution