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Weath,Sed,&Soils
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Weathering | The physical breakdown and chemical alteration of Earth materials as they are exposed to the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere |
| Parental Material | The original rocks and minerals that are weathered. Exerts some control on how easily the material is weathered, the type and style of weathering and the material that results |
| Erosion | The removal of weathered material away from the location of original parent material, typically in a fluid medium |
| Differential Weathering | Rocks are not homogeneous, therefore they may weather at varying rates |
| Mechanical Weathering | Physical forces break apart Earth materials to make smaller fragments; Product is different size and shape but same composition as parent material |
| Chemical Weathering | Decomposition and alteration of the composition of Earth materials; Product is different composition than the parent method |
| Fluvial Weathering | water moving downslope under gravity; intensity of weathering controlled by water volume, velocity, and composition as well as terrain slope |
| Eolian Weathering | the atmosphere moving sediment; wind velocity and density; moisture content of sediments |
| Coastal (Tidal/Wave) Weathering | Rhythmic action of waves/tides; wave amplitude, length and composition/density |
| Crystal Wedging | Expansion during crystal growth exerts considerable force; Frost, Salt and Gypsum wedging |
| Expansion/Contraction Weathering | Relieving stress at new Temperature and Pressure; Pressure releases - sheet joints, exfoliation domes; Thermal; Hydration |
| Biological Weathering | Animals (burrowing, digging, etc.); Plants (roots); Lichens; Bacteria |
| Anthropogenic Weathering | Construction; Mining; Recreation |
| Mineral Stability | Minerals are in equilibrium with the environment in which they formed; Quartz is stable at Earth surface conditions; Olivine is unstable at Earth surface conditions |
| Solution Weathering | The dissociation of elements in water to produce ions; Carbonates and Evaporites |
| Oxidation | The addition of oxygen to a compound in an oxic environment; Iron plus Oxygen react to form Hematite |
| Reduction | Removal of oxygen from a compound in an anoxic environment; Sulfate is reduced to sulfide; Hematite is reduced to Pyrite |
| Hydrolosis | Decomposition involving the addition of water; Anhydrite is hydrated to form Gypsum; Feldspars are decomposed to produce clays |
| Sediment | Solid material that has settled down from a state of suspension in a liquid; Solid fragmental material transported and deposited by wind water or ice, chemically precipitated form solution, or secreted by organisms. |
| Sediment shape | Angular; Subangular; Subrounded; Rounded |
| Sedimental Transport | Mechanisms of transport are effectively the same as the mechanisms that induce mechanical weathering - Fluvial, Eolian, Wave, Wind, Gravity, Biological, Anthropogenic |
| Soil | Unconsolidated association of regolith, humus and water |
| Regolith | Weathered bedrock |
| Humus | Carbon derived from the decay of organic material |
| Residual Soils | Soil that form in place by the decomposition of underlying bedrock |
| Transported Soils | Soils that form from sediments that have been transported away from the area by their source bedrock |
| Climate | Primary driver of soil formation |
| Factors that control soil development | Host Rock composition, Moisture, Temperature, Fluid Content. Biology, Topography (Slope and Orientation) |
| Pedalfer Soil | Develops in moist climates; Moderate O and A Horizon; Dispered B Horizon; Extensive C Horizon |
| Pedocal Soil | Develops in Arid climates; Thin O and A Horizon; Moderate B and C horizon |
| Laterite Soil | Develops in Tropical Climates; Well developed O horizon; Extensive A, B, and C horizon |
| Physical Deterioration of Soil | Erosion; Sheet Erosion; Rill Erosion; Compaction |
| Erosion | The loss of soil from vegetation change can cause significant degradation by both wind and water |
| Sheet Erosion | Thin, uniform layers are removed from the entire surface |
| Rill Erosion | Soil is removed along preferential, channelized flow paths |
| Rills | Small-scale erosion |
| Gullies | Large-scale erosion |
| Compaction | Cattle and machinery |
| Chemical Deterioration | Degradation of soils by the alteration of the composition such that they can no longer sustain desired vegetation |
| Preventing Erosion | Crop rotation; Contour plowing; Terrace construction; No-till farming; Environmental regualtions; Location |
| Bauxile | The accumulation of aluminum in lateritic soils as a result of the deterioration of Aluminum rich igneous rocks |
| Gossan | Oxidation and leaching of sulfide minerals results in the concentration of iron and heavy metals |
| Placer | Concentrated deposits that result from the settling high density particles during transport. |
Created by:
FaithRaquel2015
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