Questions and Answers
What is the process by which rocks are broken down chemically?
What type of soil is found in bogs?
What is the parent material of peat?
Why are the remains of dead plants and animals in peat not fully decomposed?
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What is an example of a metamorphic rock?
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What type of rock undergoes chemical weathering?
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What is the result of freeze-thaw action on rocks?
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What is formed when sedimentary rock is subjected to high pressure and temperature?
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What is the primary component of soil?
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Why are Irish soils considered young?
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What type of rocks are formed when magma cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface?
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What process is responsible for the alteration of the Earth's surface by a glacier?
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What is the primary factor that determines the size of mineral crystals in rocks?
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Which of the following rocks is NOT a sedimentary rock?
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What is the primary importance of soil in agriculture?
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What type of rocks are formed from the cooling of magma on the Earth's surface?
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What is the primary purpose of determining soil texture?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of young soil?
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What can be inferred about the topography of an area with high soil erosion?
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What is the main difference between forests and grasslands in terms of soil formation?
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What determines the mineral content of the soil?
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What is the primary source of fertility in old soil?
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What is a key factor in determining soil drainage?
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What can be inferred about an area with low levels of parent material available for soil formation?
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Study Notes
Soil Formation
- Soil is the top layer of the earth's surface, composed of various elements.
Importance of Soil in Agriculture
- Soil is essential for agriculture as it provides nutrients, water, and support for plant growth.
Soils in Ireland
- Irish soils are regarded as young, formed from glacial drift after the last ice age (approximately 1000 years ago).
- Glaciation is the alteration of the Earth's surface by a glacier through erosion and deposition.
Parent Rock
- Parent rocks are the original rocks that undergo weathering and erosion to form soil.
- Igneous rocks are formed when magma cools, resulting in either:
- Large crystals (slow cooling) - granite
- Small crystals (fast cooling) - basalt
- Sedimentary rocks are formed from compressed sediments, such as:
- Sandstone
- Shale
- Limestone
- Metamorphic rocks are formed when rocks are transformed by heat and pressure, resulting in:
- Quartzite
- Gneiss
- Slate
- Greenstone
- Marble
Weathering
- Weathering is the chemical breaking down of rocks into smaller particles.
- Types of weathering include:
- Freeze-thaw action
- Chemical weathering
Organic Parent Material - Peat/Bog
- Peat is a type of soil formed from the remains of dead plants and animals.
- Bogs contain peat, which is not fully decomposed due to:
- Acidic conditions
- Waterlogged conditions
- Low oxygen levels
- Types of bogs include:
- Basin bogs
- Blanket bogs
- Raised bogs
Soil Properties
- Soil texture, pH, and drainage are determined by the parent material.
- Soil fertility comes from rock minerals and organic matter.
Soil Age
- Young soils have high levels of parent material available for soil formation and fertility comes from rock minerals and organic matter.
- Old soils have majority of parent material no longer available for soil formation and fertility comes from organic matter.
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of soil formation, its composition, and importance in agriculture. It also focuses on the specific characteristics of soils in Ireland.
