Quiz 2: Formation of Soil
Sandstones are good examples of igneous rocks (TF)
False
Animals, insects and worms affect soil formation primarily by mixing the soil, which increases the porespace where air and water move (TF)
True
Alluvial parent materials are those that have been laid down in former lake bottoms (TF)
False
In most B horizons one of the dominant processes of soil formation has been eluviation (TF)
False
Iron and aluminium oxides are major components of igneous rocks (TF)
False
Sapric and fibric are terms used to describe peat parent materials (TF)
True
Secondary minerals are recrystallized products of the chemical breakdown and/or alteration of primary minerals
True
The A horizons are more apt to be cultivated than the E horizons (TF).
True
The O horizons of a soil are dominantly organic horizons occurring above mineral horizons (TF)
True
Hydrolysis involves the splitting of water into its H+ and OH- components while hydration attaches intact water molecules to a compound. (T or F)
True
Residual parent materials have formed in place and have not been transported from one are to another (T or F)
True
Even if all the glacier present today in the world were to melt, the melt water would have no measurable effect on the level of the world's oceans (TF)
False
Soils developed in wind-blown parent materials such as loess are generally of little agricultural value (T or F)
False
The C horizons are generally more completely weathered than the other horizons (TF)
False
The parent materials for most coastal plain soils are residual in nature (TF)
False
Weathering of rocks usually is most intense in the center of a rock fragment, and gradually decreases toward the outside (T or F)
False
The topmost horizon in most cool-humid forest soils is the A horizon (TF).
False the "O" horizon is the top layer in a humid forest.
A soil developed in residual parent materials will likely have properties related to the properties of the rock below the C horizon (TF)
True
Chemical weathering is accelerated by water, oxygen, and organic and inorganic acids moving down through the regolith (TF)
True
Climate influences not only the rate of weathering but the type of native vegetation dominant in an area (TF)
True
Eluviation of clay, iron, and other materials is the principal process responsible for the formation of an E horizon (TF)
True
Floodplain deposits can be recognized by the distinct layering of different size and kinds of particles (TF)
True
Igneous rocks are formed when molten magma cools and solidifies (TF)
True
Marine sediments are typical parent materials in coastal plain areas (TF)
True
Minerals that contain iron are more resistant to chemical breakdown than minerals that contain CaCO3 (TF)
True
Organic deposits are common in areas where water ponds for extended periods of time (TF)
True
Glacial till is a term used to describe parent materials that ________. Select one: a. contain a heterogeneous mixture of mineral debris dropped by receding glaciers. b. were laid down in the bottom of former glacial lakes. c. are sorted by rapidly flowing melt waters. d. were transported by high winds during glacial periods. e. were transported by water gushing from glacial fronts.
a
Igneous rocks can best be characterized as ________. Select one: a. rocks formed when molten magma solidifies b. rocks formed from the recrystallization of sedimentary material c. rocks found primarily near volcanoes. d. rocks containing both feldspars and micas e. rocks containing a mixture of primary and secondary minerals
a
Mixed angular gravel, rock, and soil found at the foot of a slope is typical of what type of parent material? Select one: a. colluvial b. glacial c. lacustrine d. eolian e. alluvial
a
Residual parent materials are best described as ________. Select one: a. materials formed by weathering of rocks and minerals in place. b. materials formed under organic residues. c. materials more dominant in Iowa than in the Southern United States. d. materials transported from one location to another by water, ice or wind.
a
The presence of rocks such as shale and sandstone indicate the existence of ________. Select one: a. ancient seas b. highly weathered soils c. old mountain ranges d. a high water table e. iron-rich minerals
a
The reaction: mica + H2O → K+ + OH- + acid clay is an example of ________. Select one: a. chemical weathering b. physical weathering c. exfoliation d. carbonation e. both A and C
a
"Biotite → intermediary secondary mineral → iron oxide" represents a ________. Select one: a. weathering sequence b. catena c. toposequence d. both A and B e. none of the above
a -as soil parent materials undergo weathering, they tend to go from larger particle sizes to smaller particle sizes. They also then to transform from more complex chemical structures to simpler chemical structures. Biotie has an approximate chemical formula of K(Mg,Fe)sub3AlSisub3Osub(F,OH.)sub2. Goethite, and iron oxide, has a chemical formula.
Which of the following is not a secondary mineral? Select one: a. silicate clay b. hornblende c. gibbsite d. calcite
b
Which of the following is not considered one of the five major factors influencing soil formation? Select one: a. topography b. valence state c. native parent materials d. living organisms e. climate
b.
In which of the following horizons has the process of illuviation most likely occurred? Select one: a. E horizon b. O horizon c. B horizon d. C horizon e. A horizon
c
Silicate clay accumulation is most common in the ________. Select one: a. E horizon b. C horizon c. B horizon d. A horizon e. O Horizon
c
Exfoliation is caused by changes in ________. Select one: a. oxidation b. hydration c. carbon dioxide dissolution d. temperature
d
Granite is an example of a(n) ________. Select one: a. sedimentary rock b. primary mineral c. secondary mineral d. igneous rock e. eolian parent material
d
If you wanted to find a soil where physical weathering dominated over chemical breakdown you would be most apt to find it in ________. Select one: a. a humid region in Brazil b. a coastal plain area of Delaware c. the hill lands of Georgia d. a desert region of Arizona e. a lacustrine deposit in Minnesota
d
Secondary minerals are most prominent in the ________ fraction of soils. Select one: a. silt b. sand c. organic d. clay
d
Which of the following statements is not correct? Select one: a. Grasslands are found in semi-arid and sub-humid areas. b. Where dense forests are found, soil profiles have prominent O horizons. c. Coniferous forests are found mostly in cool humid areas. d. Tropical forests protect the soil from excessive weathering. e. The type of native vegetation is controlled primarily by climate.
d
Organic matter accumulation is most pronounced in the ________. Select one: a. E horizon b. A horizon c. B horizon d. C horizon e. O horizon
e
The element most often involved in oxidation and reduction reactions as soils weather is ________. Select one: a. silicon b. magnesium c. aluminum d. copper e. iron
e
Which of the following statements is correct? Select one: a. Nutrient cycling in forested areas contributes little to soil formation. b. Calcium carbonate accumulation is more prominent in humid than in arid regions. c. Limestone parent materials enhance the process of acidification. d. Soils on hillsides tend to be deeper than those on level lands. e. Lacustrine parent materials have been subject to weathering for shorter periods of time than residual parent materials nearby.
e