Geology and Weathering Quiz

What is the process of physical breakdown and chemical alteration of rocks at or near Earth's surface called?

• Soil formation

• Erosion

• Weathering

• Mass wasting

Which term describes the transfer of rock and soil downslope under the influence of gravity?

• Soil profile

• Mass wasting

• Erosion

• Weathering

What is the physical removal of material by agents such as water, wind, or ice known as?

• Erosion

• Weathering

• Mass wasting

• Soil texture

Which type of weathering involves breaking rock into smaller pieces without changing its mineral composition?

• Thermal weathering

• Biological weathering

• Mechanical weathering

• Chemical weathering

What process involves a chemical transformation of rock into new compounds?

• Physical weathering

• Chemical weathering

• Mechanical weathering

• Biological weathering

What is the term for the concentric slabs that break loose from large masses of igneous rock due to erosion?

• Mass wasting

• Erosion

• Sheeting

• Soil horizons

Which type of weathering is accomplished by the activities of organisms?

• Chemical weathering

• Physical weathering

• Extra weathering

• Mechanical weathering

What is the combination of mineral and organic matter, water, and air that supports plant growth called?

• Sediment

• Soil

• Parent material

• Regolith

What does soil texture refer to?

• The organic matter content

• The color of the soil

• The depth of the soil

• The proportions of different particle sizes

What is the source of the weathered mineral matter from which soils develop called?

• Soil texture

• Soil horizons

• Parent material

• Soil profile