Rocks and Petrology Quiz

Weathering: The breakdown of rocks into sediments through physical and chemical processes.
Soil Formation: Involves the interaction of weathered materials with organic matter and biotic factors.

Sedimentation: Encompasses weathering, transport, and deposition of materials.
Lithification: Refers to compaction and cementation, transforming unconsolidated materials into consolidated rock.

Petrology: Study focusing on rock composition, structure, and origin.
Igneous Rocks: Formed from solidification of molten materials.
- Most abundant in Earth's crust (approx. 95%).
- Intrusive Igneous: Slow cooling, coarse texture (e.g., granite, gabbro).
- Extrusive Igneous: Rapid cooling, fine texture (e.g., basalt, rhyolite).
Sedimentary Rocks: Formed from compaction and cementation of sediments, can originate from biological materials (e.g., coal).
Metamorphic Rocks: Form from existing rocks altered by heat and pressure (e.g., limestone to marble).

Represents continuous transformation of rock types (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic) over geological time.

Oxygen (46.6%)
Silicon (27.72%)
Aluminum (8.13%)
Iron (5.00%)
Calcium (3.63%)
Sodium (2.83%)
Potassium (2.59%)
Magnesium (2.09%)
Other elements (1.41%)

Minerals: Naturally occurring inorganic substances with a defined structure and composition (e.g., kaolinite).
Mineralogy: Study of mineral structures and properties.

Physical Weathering: Breakdown by physical forces (e.g., freeze-thaw, thermal expansion).
Chemical Weathering: Alters minerals through chemical reactions (e.g., hydrolysis, oxidation).
Biological Weathering: Involves living organisms facilitating rock breakdown (e.g., root wedging).

Soil: A natural body composed of minerals, organic matter, liquid, and gases, distinguished by horizons.
O Horizon: Organic layer, various decomposition stages.
A Horizon: Topsoil enriched with organic material.
E Horizon: Zone of eluviation, lighter in color due to leached materials.
B Horizon: Subsoil, accumulation of leached materials.
C Horizon: Partially weathered parent material.
R Horizon: Unweathered bedrock.

Horizonation: Differentiation of initial materials into distinct soil profiles through processes like eluviation and illuviation.
Pedoturbation: Soil mixing involving organisms and environmental factors.

Addition: Enrichment through organic and inorganic inputs.
Removal: Erosion and leaching processes leading to material loss.
Transformation: Decomposition, synthesis, and mineralization affecting soil composition.

Concretions: Compact, cemented masses of mineral matter in soil.
Hectare Furrow Slice: A measure representing soil mass for agricultural assessments.### Soil Terminology
Pedon: The smallest unit of soil that can be recognized as an individual, influenced by activities of plants, animals, humans, and physical processes such as freeze-thaw cycles and leaching.
Polypedon: A collection of multiple homogeneous pedons, forming a larger soil unit.

Saprolite: Chemically weathered rock that remains in situ; retains the structure of the original rock.
Hardening: A process leading to a reduction in the volume of voids caused by collapse, compaction, and the filling of voids with materials like fine earth and carbonates.

Soil Horizon: A layer parallel to the soil surface characterized by unique physical, chemical, and biological properties that differ from adjacent layers.
Soil Profile: A vertical section that shows all soil materials altered by chemical, physical, and biological processes; made up of distinct soil horizons.

Salinization: The buildup of soluble salts, including sulfates and chlorides of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium, commonly found in salic horizons.
Alkalization/Solonization: The process of sodium ion accumulation on exchange sites within the soil.
Dealkalization/Solodization: The leaching process that removes sodium ions and salts from nitric horizons.
Podzolization/Silication: Involves the chemical movement of aluminum and iron, contributing to soil profile development.

Transitional Horizon: A layer that exhibits characteristics of two distinct horizons, with one horizon being more dominant (for example, an AB horizon where characteristics of A are more pronounced than B).