Materials in Soil

Front

clay

Back

a material from the earth made of small particles of rock

Front

decomposition

Back

the breaking down of dead plant and animal material

Front

humus

Back

a material that is made up of broken-down parts of dead plants and animals

Front

rock

Back

a mixture of minerals that forms a hard, nonliving part of Earth

Front

sand

Back

tiny pieces of rock found on beaches and in the desert

Front

soil

Back

a mix of tiny rocks and bits of dead plants and animals

Front

weathering

Back

slow process that breaks rocks and other Earth materials into smaller pieces