chpater 5 vocab list Flashcards
mechanical weathering
The physical disintegration of rock resulting in smaller fragments
Frost wedging
The mechanical break up of rock caused by the expansion of freezing water and cracks and crevices
exfoliation
type of weathering caused by reducing pressure on a rock surface allowing slabs of outer rock to break off in layers
Chemical weathering
The process by which the internal structure of a mineral is altered by the removal and or addition of elements
Regolith
The layer of rock and mineral fragments that nearly everywhere covers earths surface
soil
A combination of mineral and organic matter ,water and air
that portion of the regolith that supports plant growth
pedalfer
soil of human region characterized by the accumulation of iron oxide in an aluminum which plays in the B horizon
pedocal
so I’ll associated with dryer regions and characterized by an accumulation of calcium carbonate in the upper horizons
laterite
A red highly Leached soil type found in the tropics that’s rich in oxides of iron and aluminum
mass movement
The downslope movement of rock, regolith, and soil under the direct influence of gravity
rockfall
occurs when rocks or rock fragments for freely through the air – common on Streep slopes
rockslide
occurs when a massive rock slides rapidly downslope among planes of weakness
slump
The downward slipping of a mass of rock or on consolidating material moving as a unit along a curved surface
mudflows
quickly moving down Hill flow of soil and rock fragments containing a large amount of water
Earth flows
slow-moving downslope movement of water saturated, Clay Rich sediment, most characteristic of humid regions
