2: Formation of Soils from Parent Materials

Question 1

5 Soil Forming Factors

Answer 1

Parent Material, Climate, Organism, Topography, Time

Question 2

Which soil forming factor shows traces of human influence?

Answer 2

Organism

Question 3

Water splits and protons attack; increases pH

Answer 3

Hydrolysis

Question 4

Water sticks; swelling occurs

Answer 4

Hydration

Question 5

All minerals dissolve to some extent

Answer 5

Dissolution

Question 6

OM breaks down to generate carbonic and organic acids

Answer 6

Carbonation

Question 7

Life in soils generate organic molecules that bind up metal cations

Answer 7

Complexation

Question 8

3 Types of Rocks

Answer 8

Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary

Question 9

What does TDS stand for?

Answer 9

Total Dissolved Solids

Question 10

Given enough time, all primary minerals (except quartz) will weather into…

Answer 10

Fe/Al oxides and clay

Question 11

The accumulation of transported P.M. at the foot of a steep slope.

Answer 11

colluvium

Question 12

Fluvial stream deposits

Answer 12

alluvium

Question 13

Deposits of insoluble material in the ocean

Answer 13

marine sediments

Question 14

Deposits formed by glacial meltwater

Answer 14

glacial till and outwash

Question 15

Deposits formed by lakes

Answer 15

lacustrine deposits

Question 16

Deposits formed and transported by wind

Answer 16

loess deposits

Question 17

Soils formed in place via weathering of their underlying parent material

Answer 17

residual soils

Question 18

How do parent material dominate differences in soils?

Answer 18

regionally, climate and vegetation, and topography/drainage.

Question 19

5 VA Regions

Answer 19

Coastal Plains, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau

Question 20

Coastal Plain characteristics:

Answer 20

sandy surface; flat

Question 21

Piedmont characteristics:

Answer 21

crystalline igneous/metamorphic rocks

Question 22

Blue Ridge characteristics:

Answer 22

same as piedmont; higher elevation

Question 23

Valley and Ridge characteristics:

Answer 23

folded and faulted sedimentary rocks

Question 24

Appalachian Plateau characteristics:

Answer 24

flat lying sandstones

Question 25

The linear extent of waterfalls where major rivers literally fall off the Piedmont and become tidal in the Coastal Plain.

Answer 25

The Fall Line

Question 26

The decomposition and “turnover” of organic litter, roots, and organisms over time.

Answer 26

Acid Engine

Question 27

What does Acid Engine do?

Answer 27

accelerates weathering and leaching processes

Question 28

True/False: Most (not all) soils in VA are young (< 100 k y), somewhat weathered and basic by nature.

Answer 28

False: soils in VA are young, highly weathered, and acidic by nature.

Question 29

The addition of materials to soil; such as decomposing vegetation/organisms or new mineral deposits.

Answer 29

Additions

Question 30

The decrease of materials in soil; such as erosion.

Answer 30

Losses

Question 31

Changes in soil; such as rocks weathering to soil.

Answer 31

Transformations

Question 32

The movement of materials from one location to another.

Answer 32

Translocations