2025 Natural resources, minerals, rocks, and soil

natural resource

any natural material that is used by humans

renewable resource

a natural resource that can be replaced at least as quickly as it is used

nonrenewable resource

a natural resource that forms much more slowly than it is consumed

mineral

a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition

organic

living or was alive at one time

inorganic

not formed from living things or the remains of living things

precipitate

when a solid comes out of a solution

crystal

a solid, geometric form in which the atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern of atoms or molecules

natural

existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind.

synthetic

made by humans in a laboratory

magma

Molten rock beneath the earth's surface

molten

made liquid by heat; melted

lava

molten rock that reaches the Earth's surface

metamorphism

temperature and pressure within Earth cause new minerals to form as bonds between atoms break and reform

silicates

minerals that contain a combination of silicon and oxygen

native elements

Minerals that only contain one element or type of atom

streak

the color of a mineral in powdered form

porcelain tile

tool used for mineral streak

luster

the way a mineral reflects light

cleavage

when a mineral breaks with smooth, flat surfaces

fracture

when a mineral breaks unevenly- rough, jagged, irregular, or curved

specific gravity

comparison of a mineral's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water

hardness

a mineral's resistance to being scratched

Mohs hardness scale

includes the hardness of ten reference minerals

nonmetallic lusters

dull, pearly, silky, and glassy (vitreous)

composition

the makeup of something

gem

rare, valuable mineral that can be cut and polished

ore

a useful substance that can be mined at a profit

refine

to improve or make pure

rock cycle

a series of processes in which rock changes from one type of rock to another

weathering

process by which water, wind, ice and changes in temperature break down rock

erosion

the process in which sediment is moved from one place to another

deposition

the process by which sediment comes to rest

compaction

the process that presses sediments together

cementation

the process by which dissolved minerals crystallize and glue particles of sediment together into one mass.

sediment

small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or living things

igneous rock

a type of rock that forms from the cooling of molten rock at or below the surface

sedimentary rock

a type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together

metamorphic rock

a type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat and pressure, or chemical reactions.

texture

the sizes, shapes, and positions of the grains that make up a rock

solidification

the process of changing state from a liquid to a solid

abundant

plentiful

rock

naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals that may also include organic matter

coarse-grained rocks

have large grains that are easy to see with your eyes

fine-grained rocks

have small grains that can only be seen with a hand lens or microscope

basaltic or mafic

lava or magma that is dark and dense and made of iron and magnesium

granitic or felsic

lava or magma that is light colored and less dense / made of silicon and oxygen

andesitic

magma or lava that is medium color, medium density, with a medium composition

extrusive

fine-grained igneous rock that forms when lava cools quickly at or near Earth's surface

intrusive

a type of igneous rock that contains large crystals and forms when magma cools slowly beneath Earth's surface

volcanic glass

rock that forms when lava cools too quickly to form crystals

fissure

a crack in the Earth's crust

foliated

metamorphic rocks that have mineral grains arranged in planes or bands

nonfoliated

metamorphic rocks that do not have mineral grains that are aligned in planes of bands

protolith

the original rock (parent rock) from which a metamorphic rock formed

contact metamorphism

changes in rock caused by the heat from a nearby magma body

regional metamorphism

a change in the texture, structure, or chemical composition of a rock due to changes in temperature and pressure over a large area, generally as a result of colliding tectonic plates

clastic / detrital

rocks that form when sediments are buried, compacted, and cemented together by calcite or quartz

Law of Superposition

states that younger layers of rock are deposited on top of older layers

chemical sedimentary

rock that forms when minerals precipitate from a solution

organic sedimentary

rock that forms from the remains of plants or animals (organisms)

gravel

the largest fragment that makes up sedimentary rock

clay

smallest particle size that makes up sedimentary rock

clasts

broken pieces and fragments (sediment)

soil

a loose mixture of small rock fragments, organic matter, water, and air that can support the growth of vegetation

humus

decayed organic matter in soil

decomposers

organisms that break down the remains of other organisms

nutrients

a substance that provides nourishment that is necessary for growth and the maintenance of life

climate

the long term pattern of temperature and precipitation for a specific area

topography

the physical features of an area (slopes, valleys, etc.)

leach

to wash nutrients to the horizon below

silt

fine particles of fertile soil

soil profile

a vertical section of soil that shows all of the different layers

soil horizon

each layer in a profile that has different properties

A horizon

topsoil layer with decomposers and humus

B horizon

subsoil layer that gets leached materials from the horizon above

C horizon

contains the largest rock fragments called regolith

R horizon

solid bedrock layer

O horizon

the uppermost horizon of soil // It is primarily made up of organic material, including waste from organisms, the bodies of decomposing organisms, and live organisms.

porosity

the volume of open spaces in rocks or soil

permeability

the ability of a rock or sediment to let fluids pass through its open spaces, or pores.

soil fertility

a measure of how well soil supports plant growth

loam

perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, and clay