Soil Formation Vocabulary

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to soil formation, including definitions of soil components and processes.

Soil

A mixture of sand, silt, clay, rock, and humus (plant and animal remains).

Weathering

The breakdown of rocks into very small particles by gravity, water, wind, and ice.

Rock

A solid piece of Earth’s surface.

Sand

A component of soil made by the weathering of rocks into tiny grains; has a rough and gritty texture.

Clay

A component of soil made of very tiny grains; sticky and soft when wet but turns hard when dry.

Decompose

To rot and break down the remains of plants and animals into smaller parts.