Earth Systems: Week 9 Vocabulary

magma cools beneath the surface; cools slowly; coarse-grained texture; large crystals

• extrusive igneous

• intrusive igneous

• sedimentary

• metamorphic

lava cools on the Earth’s surface; cools quickly; fine-grained texture; small or no crystals

• extrusive igneous

• intrusive igneous

• sedimentary

• metamorphic

process by which sedimentary rocks are arranged in layers

• weathering

• erosion

• stratification

• chemical weathering

the breaking down of rocks

• erosion

• weathering

• soil

• clay

when broken down rock is moved by some force of nature

• weathering

• erosion

• stratification

• soil

process by which rocks break down as the result of chemical reactions

• stratification

• erosion

• mechanical weathering

• chemical weathering

break down of rock into smaller pieces by physical means

• chemical weathering

• mechanical weathering

• soil horizon

• clay

refers to the chemical makeup of a rock

• soil

• composition

• weathering

• erosion

mixture of weathered rock, organic matter, water, and air

• clay

• silt

• sand

• soil

a layer of soil with properties different from the layers above and below it

• soil

• soil horizon

• sand

• silt