Weathering and Soil chapter 5

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to weathering and soil, including processes, definitions, and factors influencing soil formation.

Weathering

The physical breakdown and chemical alteration of rocks.

Mass Wasting

The transfer of rock and soil downslope by gravity.

Erosion

The physical removal of material by water, wind, or ice.

Mechanical Weathering

Breaking of rocks into smaller pieces by physical forces without changing their chemical composition.

Chemical Weathering

Involves the chemical transformation of rock into one or more new compounds.

Frost Wedging

A form of mechanical weathering where water freezes and expands in cracks of rock, causing it to break.

Sheeting

The process in which large masses of igneous rock break loose into concentric slabs due to a reduction in pressure.

Biologic Activity

Weathering caused by plants, burrowing animals, and humans that contributes to rock breakdown.

Dissolution

A form of chemical weathering where minerals dissolve in water, often aided by acids.

Oxidation

A chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons, important for decomposing ferromagnesian minerals.

Hydrolysis

A chemical weathering process involving the reaction of minerals with water, leading to structural breakdown.

Spheroidal Weathering

Physical changes in rocks, like rounding of corners, caused by the flow of water through joints.

Regolith

The layer of rock and mineral fragments produced by weathering.

Humus

The organic component of soil that supports plant growth.

Residual Soils

Soil that forms on underlying bedrock.

Transported Soils

Soil that forms on sediment transported from elsewhere.

Soil Formation Factors

Key controls include parent material, time, climate, plants and animals, and topography.

Differential Weathering

Uneven weathering of rock that leads to unusual rock formations and landforms.