Soil Science and Pedosphere Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary source of minerals found in soil?

Water held within soil pores

Weathered rocks (correct)

Air spaces within the soil

Decomposed plants and animals

Which of the following is NOT a component of the pedosphere?

Stratosphere (correct)

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Lithosphere

What is the significance of organic matter in soil?

It helps to bind soil particles together, improving soil structure.

It provides a source of energy for plants.

It enhances soil fertility and water retention. (correct)

It increases soil aeration and drainage.

Which of the following is the most accurate description of the pedosphere?

The thin outermost layer of the Earth where soil, plants, microorganisms, and climatic elements interact. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the pedosphere considered the "living skin" of the Earth?

It is a dynamic layer, constantly changing and supporting life. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of air spaces (pores) in soil?

They allow oxygen to reach plant roots and support aerobic organisms. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of a diastrophic movement?

Volcanic eruptions (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to the formation of soil?

Gravity (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of water in soil?

To dissolve nutrients and support plant uptake. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of grassed waterways in agricultural landscapes?

To prevent soil erosion and maintain water quality (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic that distinguishes epeirogenic movements from orogenic movements?

The scale of the changes they create (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the process of tension in the context of orogenic movements?

The pulling apart of the Earth's crust (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key benefit of agroforestry practices for agricultural landscapes?

Improved soil health and biodiversity (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of diastrophic movement involves the lifting of the Earth's surface?

Upward epeirogenic movement (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between endogenic and exogenic movements?

Their source of energy (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a direct result of orogenic movements?

Increased frequency of volcanic eruptions (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of layers of sediment in ancient oceans?

They trap organic matter, contributing to petroleum formation. (C) Signup and view all the answers

On the Mohs Hardness Scale, which mineral is the hardest?

Diamond (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of rock formation is characterized by compacted and solidified dissolved minerals?

Chemical (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key physical property used to identify minerals?

Density (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a key factor in the metamorphism of rocks?

Erosion (D) Signup and view all the answers

How is the hardness of a mineral determined on the Mohs Hardness Scale?

By observing its ability to scratch or be scratched by other materials. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the Mohs Hardness Scale is TRUE?

It uses everyday objects like nails and pennies for comparison. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of rock is formed from compacted broken rocks?

Clastic (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these examples best represents an organic sedimentary rock?

Coal (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most abundant mineral in the Philippines, according to the content provided?

Gold (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that influences the shape of a mineral?

Its internal crystal structure. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the process that transforms existing rocks into metamorphic rocks?

Metamorphism (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common environment where metamorphic rocks form?

Subduction zones (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following properties refers to how a mineral reflects light?

Luster (D) Signup and view all the answers

What type of rock is formed from compacted, rounded gravel and pebbles?

Conglomerate (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role does pressure play in the formation of metamorphic rocks?

Pressure compresses the minerals, leading to a denser structure. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is copper considered vital to the Philippine economy?

Copper is a major export product, contributing to the country's income. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of nickel?

Production of stainless steel. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of early human tools and utensils?

They were crafted from natural materials like stone. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant advancement in ancient civilizations related to stone?

The development of stone paving for durable roads. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of mining?

To extract valuable resources like minerals from the Earth. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of mining is suitable for extracting resources found in horizontal layers near the surface?

Strip mining. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common type of mining?

Subsurface mining (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a use of rocks and minerals mentioned in the text?

Construction of bridges. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which mining method is particularly effective for extracting minerals located near the surface but deeper than what can be accessed by strip mining?

Open-Pit Mining (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of mining is commonly used for extracting gold located beneath the surface?

Underground Mining (D) Signup and view all the answers

The Philippines is known for its abundance of which three key minerals?

Gold, copper, nickel (A) Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the rock containing valuable minerals that can be mined and processed for profit?

Ore (D) Signup and view all the answers

What factor determines the metal content of an ore?

The grade of the ore (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which mining method is commonly used in hilly areas?

Contour Strip Mining (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the mineral name of salt?

Halite (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which mining method accounts for about 70% of the coal extracted?

Area Strip Mining (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Pedosphere

The pedosphere is the outermost layer of Earth, acting as an interface between the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
It's crucial for life's sustenance.
It's the "living skin" of the Earth.

What is Soil?

Soil is a complex, dynamic system composed of:
- Minerals: Inorganic materials from weathered rocks, supplying nutrients to plants.
- Organic Matter: Decomposed plants and animals, enhancing soil fertility and structure.
- Gases: Air spaces (pores) allowing oxygen to reach plant roots.
- Liquids: Water held within soil pores, dissolving nutrients for plant use.
- Organisms: Diverse communities (bacteria, fungi, earthworms), contributing to soil health by decomposing, cycling nutrients, and building soil structure.

Factors Affecting Soil Formation

Parent Material: Underlying geological material (bedrock or sediment) influencing soil mineral composition.
Climate: Temperature and precipitation affecting weathering rates and organic matter decomposition. Warm, moist climates speed up soil formation.
Topography: Slope and elevation influencing water drainage and erosion rates. Steeper slopes lead to thinner soils.
Biological Factors: Presence of plants, animals, and microorganisms contributing to soil formation through root penetration, organic matter decomposition, and nutrient cycling.
Time: Soil formation is a slow process, leading to more developed soils over longer periods, with distinct layers (horizons) and higher nutrient content.

Soil Production

Soil production is the conversion of solid rock into soil through weathering (physical and chemical) and biological activity.
Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller particles.
Biological activity (plant roots, microbes) adds organic matter.
Soil thickness depends on the balance between soil production and transport downslope.

Soil Triangle

A diagram used to classify soil types based on the relative percentages of sand, silt, and clay.
Sand: Large particles, good drainage, low water retention.
Silt: Medium-sized particles, moderate water retention and nutrient holding capacity.
Clay: Smallest particles, high water retention and nutrient holding capacity.

Soil Horizons

Soil is organized into horizontal layers called soil horizons, differing in composition, texture, and color.
O Horizon (Organic Layer): Mostly organic matter (decomposed leaves, plants, animals).
A Horizon (Topsoil): Minerals mixed with organic material (humus), major root activity zone.
E Horizon (Eluviation Layer): Zone of leaching, minerals and nutrients washed out, lighter color.
B Horizon (Subsoil): Minerals and metal salts leached from upper layers, often denser.
C Horizon (Parent Rock): Partly weathered rock, the source material for the soil.
R Horizon (Bedrock): Unweathered rock, the base of the soil profile.

Soil Conservation Practices

Contour Farming: Plowing along contours of the land to minimize water runoff and soil erosion.
Strip Cropping: Alternating different crops across slopes reduces erosion and retains soil moisture.
Crop Rotation: Planting different crops sequentially to improve soil health, enhance nutrient balance, and reduce erosion.
Cover Cropping: Growing cover crops (legumes, grasses) to protect soil from erosion, improve soil fertility, and increase moisture retention.
Agroforestry: Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes protects soil, improves biodiversity, and reduces erosion.
Grassed Waterways: Creating grass-covered channels to guide surface runoff, preventing soil erosion and maintaining water quality.

Endogenic and Exogenic Movements

Endogenic Movements (Internal Forces):
- Diastrophic Movements (Slow): Gradual deformation of Earth's crust (e.g., mountain formation).
- Catastrophism (Sudden): Rapid events causing immediate changes to Earth's crust (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions).
- Epeirogenic (Continent Forming): Upward or downward movement of the Earth's surface, leading to changes in elevation over large areas.
- Orogenic (Mountain Building): Formation of mountain ranges through tectonic forces.
Exogenic Movements (External Forces):
- Weathering: Breakdown of rocks by physical (e.g., frost wedging, exfoliation) and chemical (e.g., oxidation, hydration) processes, including biological processes.
- Erosion: Movement of sediment from broken rock by forces like water, wind, ice, gravity.
- Deposition: Dropping of sediment in a new location, shaping landscapes over time.

Tectonic Plate Boundaries

Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart, creating new oceanic lithosphere (e.g., Mid-Atlantic Ridge).
Convergent Boundaries: Plates move toward each other, with one plate often subducting beneath the other, creating deep ocean trenches and volcanic arcs (e.g., Andes mountains).
Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other, causing no significant topographic changes (e.g., San Andreas Fault).

Mountain Formation

Fold Mountains: Formed when two tectonic plates collide, causing layers of rocks and sediments to buckle and fold.
Rift Valleys: Formed at divergent boundaries where tectonic plates move apart, causing magma from the mantle to rise, creating a rift, thinning the crust, and leading to a valley formation.

Subduction and the Formation of the Philippines

Subduction is the process of one tectonic plate moving beneath another.
The Philippines exists because of subduction between the Philippine and Eurasian plates, with the Philippine plate subducting beneath Eurasia.

The Rock Cycle

Explains the processes by which rocks transform from one type (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary) to another.
These transformations are driven by internal (heat, pressure) and external (water, wind, gravity) forces.
- Heat, pressure, weathering, and lithification drive the rock cycle.

Types of Rocks

Igneous Rocks: Formed from the cooling and solidification of molten rock (magma or lava).
- Extrusive: Cools quickly on Earth's surface, resulting in fine-grained or glassy textures.
- Intrusive: Cools slowly beneath Earth's surface, allowing larger crystals to form.
Sedimentary Rocks: Formed from the accumulation of eroded particles of minerals, rocks, and fossils.
- Clastic: Formed from cemented pieces of other rocks.
- Chemical: Formed from dissolved minerals precipitated from water.
- Organic: Formed from compacted plant or animal remains.
Metamorphic Rocks: Formed when existing rocks undergo changes due to extreme heat and pressure deep within the Earth, altering their mineral composition, texture, and structure.

Minerals vs. Rocks

Minerals: Naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and ordered internal structure (crystalline).
Rocks: Solid aggregates of one or more minerals or mineraloids, lacking a specific and definite chemical composition.

Mineral Physical Properties

Identify minerals through key properties, including:
- Hardness: Resistance to scratching (Mohs Hardness Scale).
- Shape: External shape reflecting internal crystal structure.
- Luster: How a mineral reflects light (metallic, dull).
- Color: Outward appearance, often affected by impurities.

Top 6 Minerals in the Philippines

Gold: Abundant mineral, important for the economy of the Philippines.
Copper: Crucial for electronics and construction.
Nickel: Essential for stainless steel and industrial products.
Other minerals also listed (like chromite, iron, and aluminum) that are significant in the Philippines, often used by local communities for utensils and tools.

Mining

Extraction of valuable resources (metals, minerals, etc.) from the Earth's crust.
- Strip Mining: Extracting minerals from horizontal beds close to the surface..
- Open-Pit Mining: Digging large holes to extract materials.
- Underground Mining: Create tunnels to access materials deep beneath the surface.

Responsible Mining

Considers environmental impact and local communities.

Fossil Fuels

Still used due to established infrastructure, high energy density, and reliability in comparison to alternative energy sources.

Steno's Laws of Stratigraphy

Explain the patterns in which rock layers are deposited.
- Law of Superposition: Younger layers are above older layers in undisturbed sequences.
- Law of Original Horizontality: Layers of sediment are generally deposited horizontally.
- Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships: A feature cutting across another is younger than the feature it cuts across.
- Law of Lateral Continuity: Layers of rock are originally continuous until encountering barriers.

Fossils

Preserved remains or imprints of organisms from past life periods.
Principle of Faunal Succession: Organisms evolve over time, creating a sequence in preserved remains (fossils) in rock layers, allowing age dating.
Types:
- Trace Fossils: Imprints of organism's activities.
- Mold Fossils: Impressions of organisms.
- Body Fossils: Actual remains (bones, shells).

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Description

Test your knowledge on soil science and the pedosphere with this quiz. Explore questions about minerals, organic matter, and soil formation processes, as well as diastrophic movements in Earth's surface. This quiz is perfect for students studying environmental science or geology.