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geology second test chapter 2
chapter 2 notes
55
Geology
Undergraduate 1
03/18/2012

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Term
the physical breakdown and chemical decomposition of rock?
Definition
weathering
Term
transfer of rock and soil downslope under the influence of gravity?
Definition
mass wasting
Term
physical removal of material by water, wind, ice, or gravity?
Definition
erosion
Term
two types of weathering?
Definition
mechanical and chemical
Term
breaks rock into smaller pieces without a compositional change?
Definition
mechanical weathering
Term
Chemical reactions transform rock to new minerals?
Definition
chemical weathering
Term
Breaking apart with NO chemical change?
Definition
mechanical weathering
Term
types of mechanical weathering: __wedging, ___ ___, ___,___expansion, ___ activity.
Definition
frost; salt crystals; unloading; thermal; biological
Term
(the most important of the mechanical weathering processes)?
Definition
frost wedging
Term
Water in cracks freezes and expands breaking rock apart and Occurs in moist climate with daily freeze-frost cycles (temperate – alpine)?
Definition
frost wedging
Term
frost wedging produces ___ slopes.
Definition
talus slopes
Term
grow in cracks, Salt precipitates when water evaporates from the pore spaces leaving the salt behind, Pushes rock pieces apart similar to frost wedging, Important process where roads are salted to deice in the winter?
Definition
salt crytals
Term
Erosion exposes rock and results in decreased pressure on the new top layer.
–Rock expands and cracks
–Happens in any climate?
Definition
unloading
Term
unloading forms ___domes.
Definition
exfoliation
Term
example of unloading a exfoliation is __ __ in central ___.
Definition
enchanted rock; texas
Term
Daily heating and cooling
•different minerals expand differently
•rock cracks
•climate - deserts?
Definition
thermal expansion
Term
plant roots - wedge apart fractures humans – construction?
Definition
biological activity
Term
Breaks down internal structure of minerals and it alters to a new mineral?
Definition
chemical weathering
Term
most important agent in chemical weathering is ___. bec. it transports ions and is responsible for chemical reactions.
Definition
water
Term
Carbon dioxide in air combines with rain to form ____ acid.
Definition
carbonic
Term
Carbonic acid in the acid rain then dissolves ___.
Definition
calcite
Term
How do we make acid rain? The atmosphere already contained some ___ ___ and rain was already slightly ___. Combustion of ___ ___ has increased the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere and so rain has become more acid.
Definition
carbon dioxide; acid; hydocarbons fuels
Term
Unpolluted rain pH approx?
Definition
5.5
Term
Normal rain pH approximately?
Definition
5.5
Term
chemical weathering:Feldspar and other silicate minerals reacts with acid in rain to form ___ ___ which is a slow process.
Definition
clay mineral
Term
chemical weathering: Oxygen in rain oxidizes___ ___. its like rusting a iron nail.
Definition
iron minerals
Term
chemical weathering can result in __ __.
Definition
spheroidal weathering
Term
start with jointed bedrock
–dissolve corners of angular rock pieces?
Definition
Spheroidal weathering
Term
controlling factors of chemical weathering are ___ __, __ __ and ___.
Definition
surface area; mineral composition; climate
Term
Break rock into smaller pieces increases surface area and weathering is faster
•Physical weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces, increases weathering rates?
Definition
surface area
Term
___ minerals dissolve faster than ___ minerals.
Definition
nonsilicate; silicate
Term
Weathering of Silicate Minerals follows ___ ___ ___.
Definition
Bowen’s Reaction Series
Term
High temperature silicates weather faster than low temperature silicate minerals?
Definition
bowens reaction series
Term
Most important climatic factors is __ and ___.
Definition
temperature and moisture
Term
most important in cold-moist climates because the freeze thaw cycle results in frost wedging.?
Definition
mechanical weathering
Term
Chemical weathering is best in a___ ___ ___(tropical-rain forest the best).
Definition
hot-moist climate
Term
The product of physical and chemical weathering is a mixture of eroded rock, decaying organic matter, water, air and billions of living organisms.?
Definition
soil
Term
soil is composed of ___,___ and ___ ___.
Definition
minerals; humus; pore space
Term
disintegrated and decomposed to clay, silt, sand?
Definition
minerals
Term
organic matter from the decayed remains of plants or animals;It is not a soil without organic matter because the organic matter is needed to support life. ?
Definition
humus
Term
containing air and water?
Definition
pore space
Term
___ is not a soil bec. it lacks humus so it cannot support life.
Definition
Regolith
Term
the loose rock rubble accumulated at the surface over solid rock.?
Definition
regolith
Term
Soil forming processes operate from the surface downward developing horizontal layers?
Definition
horizons
Term
humus and mineral matter (clay, silt, sand). This is the important layer that supports life (supports crop growth)?
Definition
topsoil
Term
only mineral matter (clay, silt, sand)?
Definition
zone of leaching
Term
accumulation of clay leached from above?
Definition
subsoil
Term
"The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself."?
Definition
president fdr
Term
Rainforest soils cannot support ___.
Definition
agriculture
Term
All elements are leached out leaving only unreactive Fe and Al oxides minerals forming a soil?
Definition
laterite
Term
___ soil is poor for farming,
Definition
laterite
Term
Is the movement of soil components especially topsoil, from one place to another by the action of wind and water.?
Definition
soil erosion
Term
occurs when soil loss exceeds soil production?
Definition
Desertification
Term
Poor agricultural practices in the US and a 10 year drought in the 1930’s resulted in erosion so severe it nearly destroyed our most important agricultural areas in central US?
Definition
us dust bowl in the 1930s
Term
____ produced from corn or other grains can deplete the topsoil of nutrients.
Definition
biofuels
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