Weathering and Soil

the breakdown or decomposition of rock that takes place when minerals change through chemical processes

• Mechanical weathering

• Abrasion

• Chemical weathering

• Evil Scientists

the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces of the same material without any change in its composition

• Acid Precipitation

• Humus

• Holy Cow

• Mechanical weathering

the process of wearing something down by friction

• Abrasion

• Chemical weathering

• Sand

• Terminator

the portion of the earth's surface consisting of disintegrated rock and humus

• Loam

• Silt

• Clay

• Soil

decayed organic matter in soil

• Bedrock

• Subsoil

• Soil profile

• Humus

a soil layer with physical and chemical properties that differs from those of soil layers above or below it

• Soil profile

• Exfoliation

• Soil horizon

• Santa

unbroken solid rock, overlaid in most places by soil or rock fragments; bottom layer; lowest stratum

• Topsoil

• Subsoil

• Parent material

• Bedrock

the more or less fine debris of rocks, consisting of small, loose grains, often of quartz

• Sand

• Silt

• Clay

• Loam

earthy matter, fine sand, or the like carried by moving or running water and deposited as a sediment

• Clay

• Silt

• Sand

• Loam

How does freezing water cause the weathering of rocks?  The freezing water—

• keeps the rocks in place
• makes the rocks last longer
• expands cracks and breaks rocks
• causes rocks to fall in landslides