APES Unit 2, Module 24-25

divergent plate boundary

plates move away from each other

tranform fault boundaries

area where tectonic plates move sideways past each other

seafloor spreading

formation of new ocean crust as result of magma pushing up and out of mantle to surface

convergent plate boundaries

an area where plates move toward one another and collide

subduction zone

type of convergent boundary, one plate sinks into mantle under the other

hot spots

place where molten material from earths mantle reaches lithosphere

fault

fracture in rock caused by movements of earth’s crust

fault zone

expanse of rock where fault has occurred

seismic activity

frequency and intensity of earthquakes experience over time

epicenter

exact center of earthquakes, point on surface directly above rupture location during earthquake

physical weathering

mechanical breakdown

chemical weathering

break down by chemical reaction, dissolving of chemical elements from rocks, or both

biological weathering

breakdown by exertion of physical forces and chemical reactions by a biological organism

erosion

physical removal of soil from a landscape or ecosystem

abiotic erosion

wind, water, ice move materials downslope

biotic erosion

living organisms borrow under soil

deposition

process by which sediments/soil is added to a landform/landmass

soil permeability 

ability of water and air to move through a soil

soil provision eco service

agriculture

soil culture eco service

natural spaces, tourism, spiritual connection

soil supporting eco service

habitat, nutrient cycling oil s

soil regulating eco service

filters pollutants, carbon sink

climate influence on soil formation

temperature, precipitation, tropical—> more soil, organisms live in different climates

organisms influence on soil formation

more organisms—> more soil

topography influence on soil formation 

gravity, natural and physical features of area

percent material/rock influence on soil formation

rock material from which inorganic components of soil are derived

time influence on soil formation

how long soil has been developing

O horizon

organic horizon at surface, composed of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition, not soil

A horizon

frequently top layer of soil, where organic material and minerals that have been mixed “top soil” —> habitat

E Horizon 

leaching/eluviation layer, in some acidic soils on o or occasionally a horizon 

B horizon

final nutrient recevoir ,mainly mineral material, little organic matter, metals and nutrient

C horizon

least weathered, under b, similar to parent material-”bedrock”

soil permeability ranking most to least

sand, silt, clay

water logging

water moves through to a point then is stuck, not entering leaching layer —not enough oxygen, limited gas exchange, anaerobic conditions, wood starts to rot

micro nutrients 

CA2+ calcium, Mg2+ magnesium, NA+ sodium

macro nutrients

nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium

cation exchange capacity

The ability of a particular soil to absorb and release cations

base saturation

The percentage of total CEC is occupied by Mg2+, Ca2+ and K+ (nutrient cations) compared to H+ and Al3+; higher base saturation → higher fertility

salinization

when salts in ground water remain in soil after water evaporates

ore

concentrated accumulation of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted

metal

element with properties that allow it to conduct electricity and heat energy and to perform other important functions (tungsten, aluminum)

reserve 

in resource management, the known quantity of a resource that can be economically recovered

placer mining

The process of looking for minerals, metals, and precious stones in river sediments—most eco friendly and safe—surface mining

strip mining

The removal of strips of soil and rock to expose ore such as coal—habitat destruction—surface mining

open pit mining

mining technique that uses a large visible pit or hole in the ground, blows up area, softens and moves soil which is sent off as waste, uses explosives, surface mining

mountain top removal

A mining technique in which the entire top of a mountain is removed with explosives

subsurface mining

used when source is over 100m/328 ft below surface, very dangerous, uses drills, expensive, often spill hurts people as well as chemicals, air quality, etc —under surface

tailing

man made pond with disturbed soil, chemicals used to clean ores before refinery, waste water and gasoline from mining

overburden 

rock or soil underlying a mineral deposit, or other underground feature

acid mine drainage

the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines

reclamation

the process of restoring land that has been mined to a natural or economically usable state

lithosphere

outermost layer of earth, crust and mantle (has magma)

asthenosphere

outer part of mantle, semi molten rock

lava

when magma interacts with oxygen

core

innermost zone of crust interior, has liquid outlier and solid inner layer, nickel and iron

evidence for alfred wagner tectonics theory

fossil distribution, rock formation both across different or distant countries