Soil formation

Question 1

Describe Igneous rocks

Answer 1

Magma is liquid rock found under the earth’s crust. Magma is called Lava above ground. When it cools it hardens to from rocks. When it cools it also forms crystals from minerals. It forms small crystals if it cools quickly and large crystals it cools slowly

Question 2

What are the three most common crystals in Igneous rocks?

Answer 2

Quartz, Feldspar and Mica

Question 3

Is Quartz alkaline or acidic?

Answer 3

Acidic

Question 4

Is feldspar alkaline or acidic?

Answer 4

Alkaline

Question 5

Describe Granite

Answer 5

Granite is formed when magma cools in the earths crust. Granite contains a lot of Quartz and is therefore acidic. Soils formed from it are also acidic

Question 6

Describe Basalt

Answer 6

Basalt is formed when lava cools. It os less acidic than granite as it contains less Quartz. It contains feldspar,making it fine grained and smooth. It’s soils take a similar form.

Question 7

Describe sedimentary rocks

Answer 7

Over millions of years, layers of sediment deposit on the bottom of seas and lakes. These layers built up and compacted slowly. As they compacted, the solidified to form sedimentary rocks.

Mineral sediments are made up of different sizes, the largest being Quartz (sand) and the smaller particles being clay (weathered igneous rocks). Sedimentary rocks are also made up of animal fossils

Question 8

Describe Sandstone

Answer 8

Acidic and made from sand

Question 9

Describe Shale

Answer 9

Weakly acidic and made from clay

Question 10

Describe Limestone

Answer 10

Alkaline and made from fossils and shells

Question 11

Describe metamorphic rocks

Answer 11

Metamorphic rocks are formed from either igneous or sedimentary rocks. Heat or pressure changes the rock and its mineral content.

Question 12

Describe Marble

Answer 12

Formed from limestone

Question 13

Describe Slate

Answer 13

Formed from Shale

Question 14

Describe Gneiss

Answer 14

Formed from Granite

Question 15

Describe Quartzite

Answer 15

Formed from Sandstone

Question 16

What is the difference between physical and chemical weathering?

Answer 16

Physical weather involves the breakdown of rocks into sediments and Chemical weather brings a chemical change during the decomposition process.

Question 17

What are the main methods of Physical weather

Answer 17

Heating and Cooling
Freeze-Thaw action
Activity of roots
Grinding action

Question 18

What are the three main rock types?

Answer 18

Igneous
Sedimentary rocks
Metamorphic

Question 19

What are the main methods of chemical weathering? Explain each.

Answer 19

Hydrolysis
Oxidation
Hydration
Solution and Carbonation

Question 20

What are the five factors that effect soil formation? Explain each

Answer 20

Parent material
Climate 
Living organisms
Topography
Time

Question 21

Describe how bogs are formed.

Answer 21

Organic parent material consists of dead partially decomposed organic matter. This can build up in wet/waterlogged/lake conditions. In these conditions oxygen isn’t present and so decomposition does not fully take place. Peat forms from this. Peat is the main material in bogs

Question 22

Name the three types of bogs found in Ireland. Explain their formation

Answer 22

Basin bogs
Flat bogs(fens)
Blanket bogs