Question 1

In the weathering process of pressure-release fracturing, ____.
A) salts crystallize in cracks, enlarging fractures
B) bedrock minerals decompose to clay
C) bedrock expands and fractures when the overlying rock erodes away
D) bedrock dissolves and ground water carries the dissolved ions away

Accepted Answer

In pressure-release fracturing, bedrock expands and fractures when the overlying rock erodes away. As the pressure from the overlying rock decreases due to erosion, the bedrock expands and fractures along existing weaknesses, such as mineral grains or joints, resulting in large-scale fractures. This process is also known as unloading or exfoliation. Salts crystallizing in cracks and bedrock minerals decomposing to clay are examples of other types of weathering processes. Bedrock dissolution and ion transport by groundwater is an example of chemical weathering.

Question 2

____ is a layer of loose rock fragments, clay, silt, and sand overlying bedrock.
A) Loam
B) Humus
C) Litter
D) Regolith

Accepted Answer

Regolith refers to the layer of loose rock fragments, clay, silt, and sand that overlies bedrock. Loam refers to a soil type that is composed of sand, silt, and clay, with a balance of organic material and humus. Humus refers to the organic material in soil that comes from the decomposition of plant and animal matter. Litter refers to the layer of dead plant material, such as leaves and stems, on the surface of the soil.

Question 3

If you wanted to obtain information where you live, what specific soil report would you as the National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) to provide you?
A) Soil order
B) Soil classification
C) Soil series
D) Soil analysis

Accepted Answer

The NRCS would provide specific information on the soil series in the area, as this is the most detailed level of soil classification and provides the most specific information on the soil properties and characteristics in a given area. Soil order and soil classification are broader categories that may not provide as much specific information on a local level, while soil analysis may provide information on nutrient levels but may not give a complete picture of the soil quality as a whole.

Question 4

Granite commonly fractures by ____, a process in which plates of weathered material split away like layers of an onion and you can observe this type of weathering in Yosemite National Park.
A) salt cracking
B) exfoliation
C) chemical weathering
D) oxidation

Accepted Answer

Granite commonly fractures by exfoliation, which is a process in which plates of weathered material split away like layers of an onion. This type of weathering can be observed in Yosemite National Park. Salt cracking, chemical weathering, and oxidation are all different types of weathering, but they are not the primary process that causes granite to fracture in this way.

Question 5

Rusting is an example of ____.
A) dissolution
B) hydrolysis
C) frost wedging
D) oxidation

Accepted Answer

Rusting is the process of oxidation, where iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of water to form iron oxide (rust).

Question 6

If you find a piece of limestone that has holes through it, this was caused because atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in rainwater and reacts to form a ________ that can chemically dissolve rock-like limestone.
A) strong acid
B) weak base
C) weak acid
D) strong base

Accepted Answer

When atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in rainwater, it forms a weak acid called carbonic acid. Carbonic acid can chemically dissolve rock-like limestone, which results in the formation of holes and pits on the surface of the limestone. Therefore, the correct answer is C) weak acid.

Question 7

A high-latitude soil that forms over permafrost is called a(n) ____.
A) mollisol
B) gelisol
C) oxisol
D) aridisol

Accepted Answer

A gelisol is a soil that forms in high-latitude areas where permafrost exists. It is characterized by having a layer of permanently frozen soil, called permafrost, within two meters of the surface. Mollisols are a type of soil found in grasslands, oxisols are found in the tropics, and aridisols are found in arid regions. None of these soils are specifically associated with permafrost.

Question 8

Earthworms would most likely exist in which specific soil horizon which consists mostly of organic litter and humus, with a small portion of minerals? __________________
A) B
B) O
C) C
D) A

Accepted Answer

Earthworms are decomposers that consume organic matter, so they would most likely be found in the organic horizon known as the O horizon. This horizon is composed mostly of organic litter, humus, and some minerals. The other horizons are mostly composed of mineral particles and do not contain enough organic matter to support earthworms.

Question 9

Soils that are common in desert environments are called ____.
A) vertisols
B) histosols
C) gelisols
D) aridisols

Accepted Answer

Aridisols are soils that are common in desert environments. These soils are characterized by low organic matter content, high salinity and a lack of subsurface horizons. They also have a low water-holding capacity and are often classified as either sandy or clayey depending on their texture.

Question 10

Soils that form from the weathering of underlying bedrock are called ____.
A) O horizon soils
B) transported soils
C) translocated soils
D) residual soils

Accepted Answer

Soils that form from the weathering of underlying bedrock are called residual soils.

Question 11

If you are hiking in the Grand Canyon along a cliff wall and a segment of bedrock slides downslope along a fracture plane, you have observed what specific type of mass wasting?
A) creep
B) a debris flow
C) a rockslide
D) a fall

Accepted Answer

The description of a segment of bedrock sliding downslope along a fracture plane is characteristic of a rockslide.

Question 12

Weathering is the decomposition and disintegration of rocks and minerals at Earth's surface by ____.
A) both mechanical and chemical processes
B) chemical processes only
C) mechanical processes only
D) the movement of the rocks and minerals from one place to another

Accepted Answer

Weathering can occur through both mechanical (physical) processes, such as freeze-thaw cycles and abrasion, as well as chemical processes like oxidation and acidification.

Question 13

The combined effects of mechanical and chemical weathering processes that can cause coarse crystalline igneous rocks to become rounded boulders are known as ____.
A) oxidation
B) abrasion
C) spheroidal weathering
D) organic activity

Accepted Answer

Spheroidal weathering is a process that involves both mechanical and chemical weathering, which can transform coarse crystalline igneous rocks into rounded boulders. This occurs as water penetrates cracks and joints in the rock, promoting chemical weathering that rounds the edges and corners, leading to a spheroidal shape.

Question 14

The soil layer that consists of partially weathered bedrock which grades into unweathered parent rock is the ____.
A) B horizon
B) O horizon
C) C horizon
D) A horizon

Accepted Answer

The C horizon is the soil layer that consists of partially weathered bedrock which grades into unweathered parent rock, lying beneath the A (topsoil) and B (subsoil) horizons.

Question 15

If you were driving in a canyon and rock falls on the road, what specific type of mass wasting did you observe? ____
A) slide
B) fall
C) flow
D) slump

Accepted Answer

A rock fall is a specific type of mass wasting where rocks detach and fall from a steep slope or cliff face. It differs from a slide, flow, or slump because the material falls vertically instead of moving down a slope or surface.

Question 16

A mixture of mineral grains and rock fragments, organic material, water, and gas that can support plant growth is called ____.
A) soil
B) bedrock
C) humus
D) litter

Accepted Answer

Soil is the only option that includes all the necessary components for plant growth, including mineral grains, organic material, water, and gas. Bedrock does not contain organic material and is not suitable for plant growth. Humus refers specifically to the decomposed organic material in soil, but does not necessarily include the other necessary components. Litter refers to the layer of dead plant material on the soil surface, but does not necessarily include the other necessary components for plant growth.

Question 17

The sculpting of rock formations by blowing sand is an example of ____.
A) oxidation
B) dissolution
C) corrosion
D) abrasion

Accepted Answer

The sculpting of rock formations by blowing sand is an example of abrasion, which is the process of rocks and other materials being worn down by the continuous scraping or grinding of one another.

Question 18

In the process of hydrolysis ____.
A) salts crystallize in cracks, enlarging fractures
B) minerals react with water to form a new mineral that has water as part of its crystal structure
C) bedrock expands and fractures when the overlying rock erodes away
D) bedrock dissolves and ground water carries the dissolved ions away

Accepted Answer

Hydrolysis is a chemical weathering process where minerals react with water to form new minerals that include water in their crystal structure, such as the transformation of feldspar into clay minerals.

Question 19

If you go to a beach with very durable sand, it likely came from the weathering of granite and the durable mineral in the sand is called what? ______________________
A) calcite
B) feldspar
C) quartz
D) mica

Accepted Answer

Quartz is the most durable mineral that comes from the weathering of granite, so a beach with very durable sand likely contains a high percentage of quartz.

Question 20

The ____ is the maximum slope or steepness at which loose material remains stable.
A) dip slope
B) mass wasting angle
C) angle of repose
D) slip slope

Accepted Answer

The angle of repose is the maximum slope or steepness at which loose material remains stable. It is the steepest angle at which a sloping surface of loose material is stable.

Quiz 10: Weathering, Soil, and Erosion

In the weathering process of pressure-release fracturing, ____.

____ is a layer of loose rock fragments, clay, silt, and sand overlying bedrock.

If you wanted to obtain information where you live, what specific soil report would you as the National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) to provide you?

Granite commonly fractures by ____, a process in which plates of weathered material split away like layers of an onion and you can observe this type of weathering in Yosemite National Park.

Rusting is an example of ____.

If you find a piece of limestone that has holes through it, this was caused because atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in rainwater and reacts to form a ________ that can chemically dissolve rock-like limestone.

A high-latitude soil that forms over permafrost is called a(n) ____.

Earthworms would most likely exist in which specific soil horizon which consists mostly of organic litter and humus, with a small portion of minerals? __________________

Soils that are common in desert environments are called ____.

Soils that form from the weathering of underlying bedrock are called ____.

If you are hiking in the Grand Canyon along a cliff wall and a segment of bedrock slides downslope along a fracture plane, you have observed what specific type of mass wasting?

Weathering is the decomposition and disintegration of rocks and minerals at Earth's surface by ____.

The combined effects of mechanical and chemical weathering processes that can cause coarse crystalline igneous rocks to become rounded boulders are known as ____.

The soil layer that consists of partially weathered bedrock which grades into unweathered parent rock is the ____.

If you were driving in a canyon and rock falls on the road, what specific type of mass wasting did you observe? ____

A mixture of mineral grains and rock fragments, organic material, water, and gas that can support plant growth is called ____.

The sculpting of rock formations by blowing sand is an example of ____.

In the process of hydrolysis ____.

If you go to a beach with very durable sand, it likely came from the weathering of granite and the durable mineral in the sand is called what? ______________________

The ____ is the maximum slope or steepness at which loose material remains stable.