1. Table of Contents Chapter Preview 2.1 Minerals and Rocks
2.2 Rocks and Weathering
2.3 How Soil Forms
2.4 Soil Conservation

2. Chapter Preview Questions
1. The processes that form and change rocks on Earth are parts of the
a. nitrogen cycle.
b. water cycle.
c. carbon cycle.
d. rock cycle.

3. Chapter Preview Questions
1. The processes that form and change rocks on Earth are parts of the
a. nitrogen cycle.
b. water cycle.
c. carbon cycle.
d. rock cycle.

4. Chapter Preview Questions
2. Freezing and thawing and the growth of plant roots are processes that
a. cause igneous rocks to form.
b. cause volcanoes to erupt.
c. break rocks into smaller pieces.
d. combine minerals to form rocks.

5. Chapter Preview Questions
2. Freezing and thawing and the growth of plant roots are processes that
a. cause igneous rocks to form.
b. cause volcanoes to erupt.
c. break rocks into smaller pieces.
d. combine minerals to form rocks.

6. Chapter Preview Questions
3. Which of these plays the largest role in reshaping the land?
a. ice.
b. moving water.
c. wind.
d. gravity.

7. Chapter Preview Questions
3. Which of these plays the largest role in reshaping the land?
a. ice.
b. moving water.
c. wind.
d. gravity.

8. Chapter Preview Questions
4. Which of these recycles matter from dead plants and animals?
a. decomposers.
b. producers.
c. herbivores.
d. carnivores.

9. Chapter Preview Questions
4. Which of these recycles matter from dead plants and animals?
a. decomposers.
b. producers.
c. herbivores.
d. carnivores.

10. How does the weathering of rock help reshape Earth’s topography and form soil?
Suppose that you carve a model of a mountain in a bar of soap. Then, you leave the model outside in the rain overnight. Based on what you think would happen to the model, predict how rock on Earth’s surface might change over time.

11. Suffixes -ation Process of, action of
Meaning
Part of Speech
Key Terms
Process of,
action of
Conservation, oxidation, rotation
-ation
Noun

12. Suffixes -sion Process of, action of Noun Abrasion, erosion Suffix
Meaning
Part of Speech
Key Terms
Process of,
action of
-sion
Noun
Abrasion, erosion

13. Suffixes -ing Melting, plowing, smelting, weathering, wedging
Meaning
Part of Speech
Key Terms
Melting, plowing, smelting, weathering, wedging
Showing continuous action
-ing
Noun or adjective

14. Apply It! Complete the sentences with the correct words.
People who electricity are contribuing to energy
conserve/conservation
2. Rain, snow, and other types of contribute to the of
Earth´s surface.
weather, weathering

15. End of Chapter Preview

16. Section 1: Minerals and Rocks
What is a mineral?
What are the three major groups of rock, and how do they form through the rock cycle?
How are minerals and rocks used and processed?

17. Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Sedimentary rocks form over millions of years as particles of sediment are deposited and then squeezed and glued together.

18. Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.

19. Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.

20. Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.

21. Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.

22. Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.

23. Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.

24. Rock Cycle Activity
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about the rock cycle.

25. Producing Metals From Minerals
In the process of smelting, an ore is mixed with other substances and then melted to separate the useful metal from the other elements the ore contains.

26. End of Section: Minerals and Rocks

27. Section 2: Rocks and Weathering
How do weathering and erosion affect Earth’s surface?
What are the causes of mechanical weathering and chemical weathering?
What determines how fast weathering occurs?

28. Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical weathering affects all rock on Earth’s surface.
Release of Pressure As rock erodes, release of pressure causes the outside of the rock to crack and flake off.
Freezing and Thawing When water freezes in a crack in a rock, it expands and makes the crack bigger.
Animal Actions Burrowing animals like this mole can loosen and break apart rocks and soil.
Plant Growth Roots of plants enter cracks in rocks, forcing the cracks farther apart.
Abrasion Rock particles carried by wind, water, or ice and wear away exposed rock surfaces like sandpaper on wood.

29. Chemical Weathering
As weathering breaks apart rock, the surface area exposed to weathering increases.

30. Which Weathered Faster?
The graph shows the rate of weathering for two identical pieces of limestone that weathered in different locations.

31. Which Weathered Faster?
Reading Graphs:
What does the x-axis of the graph represent?
Time in years

32. Which Weathered Faster?
Reading Graphs:
What does the y-axis of the graph represent?
The thickness of stone lost to weathering

33. Which Weathered Faster?
Reading Graphs:
How much thickness did Stone A lose in 1,000 years? How much thickness did Stone B lose in the same period?
Stone A lost about 8.5 millimeters; Stone B lost slightly more than 4 millimeters.

34. Which Weathered Faster?
Drawing Conclusions:
Which stone weathered at a faster rate?
Stone A weathered at a faster rate.

35. Which Weathered Faster?
Inferring:
Since the two identical pieces of limestone weathered at different rates, what can you infer caused the difference in their rates of weathering?
They were exposed to different climate conditions.

36. Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity about weathering.
More on Weathering
Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity about weathering.

37. End of Section: Weathering and Rocks

38. Section 3: How Soil Forms
What is soil made of, and how does it form?
How do scientists classify soils?
What is the role of plants and animals in soil formation?

39. What Is Soil?
Loam, a type of soil, is made up of air, water, and organic matter as well as materials from weathered rock.

40. What Is Soil?
Soil particles range in size from gravel to clay particles too small to be seen by the unaided eye. The sand, silt, and clay shown here have been enlarged.

41. The Process of Soil Formation
Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering and mixes with other materials on the surface. Soil is constantly being formed wherever bedrock is exposed.

42. Soil Layers Activity
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about soil layers.

43. Soil Types
Soil pH affects plants’ ability to take up nutrients from the soil. It also affects the color of hydrangea flowers.
pH 5.0 Blue hydrangea
pH 6.0
Pink hydrangea
Most acidic
Most basic
pH Scale

44. Living Organisms in Soil
Some soil organisms make humus, the material that makes soil fertile. Other soil organisms mix the soil and make spaces in it for air and water.

45. End of Section: How Soil Forms

46. Section 4: Soil Conservation
Why is fertile soil considered a nonrenewable resource?
How can soils lose its value?
What are some ways that soil can be conserved?

47. Soil Damage and Loss -
Wind erosion is one cause of soil loss. For example, wind erosion contributed to the Dust Bowl on the Great Plains. The Dust Bowl ruined farmland in western Oklahoma and parts of the surrounding states. Wind blew dry particles of soil into great clouds of dust that traveled thousands of kilometers.

48. Links on Soil Conservation
Click the SciLinks button for links on soil conservation.

49. End of Section: Soil Conservation

50. QuickTake Quiz
Click to start quiz.