Rocks, Minerals, and Soil
Nov 11, 2014
Rocks, Minerals, and Soil
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Minerals
Rocks
The Rock Cycle
Soil
Erosion
Definition: A mineral is an inorganic, homogeneous solid
Inorganic means never been alive
Homogeneous means made of only one thing
Minerals
MineralsExamples: Gold, iron, copper, salt, diamonds, coal, feldspar, calcium, phosphorus
Iron Feldspar Gold
RocksDefinition: More than one kind of mineral stuck together
Three types of rocks
Igneous - May have crystals, no layers, may have holes, might look “glass-like”
Metamorphic - May have layers of crystals or minerals, wavy lines
Sedimentary - May have layers, rounded particles, rough and grainy
Deep inside the Earth, rocks and minerals melt under tremendous heat. This forms magma.
When the magma cools back down, it hardens and forms new rocks. These rocks are called IGNEOUS rocks.
IGNEOUS ROCKSHow are they made?
IGNEOUS ROCKSSamples of Igneous Rocks
Basalt, granite, obsidian, pumice
Some rocks are changed by heat and pressure. New rocks are formed.
Deep inside the Earth
Layers of sediment
Metamorphic rocks form
METAMORPHIC ROCKSHow are they made?
METAMORPHIC ROCKSSamples of Metamorphic Rocks
The forces of wind, water, and gravity break rocks down into little pieces. This is called weathering.
Big rocksBig rocks Smaller rocksSmaller rocks SandSand
SEDIMENTARY ROCKSHow are they made?
After a long time, these little pieces of rocks get stuck back together and form new rocks.
Time + Pressure
SEDIMENTARY ROCKSHow are they formed?
SEDIMENTARY ROCKSSamples of Sedimentary Rocks
Sandstone, limestone, shale, conglomerate
The Rock Cycle
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Soil
• In this section, you will learn about the layers of soil, how soil is formed, and what soil is made of.
Topsoil - where plants get their nutrientsTopsoil - where plants get their nutrients
Subsoil - not as much organic materialSubsoil - not as much organic material
Parent Material - provides the minerals in soilParent Material - provides the minerals in soil
Bedrock - mostly solid rockBedrock - mostly solid rock
Layers of Soil
Soil Formation
It takes about 500 years for 1 inch of topsoil to form.
Soil is formed as rocks are weathered and
covered with organic material.
Components of Soil
Erosion happens when pieces of rocks and soil are carried away by wind and water.
ErosionWhat is erosion?
It can be beautiful.
Erosion happens when pieces of rocks and soil are carried away by wind and water.
ErosionWhat is erosion?
It can be devastating.
Farmer’s field gets washed away
A house too close to a river
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