SSC Final Chapter 2

Sandstones are good examples of metamorphic rocks.

False

The parent materials for most plain soils are residual in nature.

False

The presence or iron in a mineral generally increases its resistance to chemical breakdown.

False

Alluvial parent materials are those that have been laid down in former lake bottoms.

False

In most B horizons one of the dominant processes of soil formation has been eluviation.

False

Living organisms affect soil formation primarily by their constraining the level of oxygen in the soil.

False

Secondary minerals are recrystallized products of the chemical breakdown and/or alteration of primary minerals.

True

Residual parent materials have formed in place and have not been transported from one area to another.

True

Organic matter accumulation is most pronounced in the ___ horizon. A. O B. A C. E D. B E. C

A. O

The presence of rocks such as shale and sandstone indicate the existence of ____. A. a high water table B. ancient seas C. old mountain ranges D. iron-rich materials E. highly weathered soils

B. ancient seas

Which of the following is not a secondary mineral? A. silicate clay B. microcline C. calcite D. hematite E. gypsum

C. calcite

Glacial till is laid down by melt waters gushing out from the front of glaciers.

False

Chemical weathering is accelerated by water, oxygen, and organic and inorganic acids moving down through the regolith.

True

If you wanted to find a soil where physical weathering dominated over chemical breakdown you would be most apt to find it in ___. A. a desert region of Arizona. B. a humid region in Brazil C. the hill lands of Georgia D. a lacustrine deposit of Minnesota E. a coastal plain area of Delaware

A. a desert region of Arizona.

The reaction: mica + H2O -> K + OH + acid clay is an example of: A. chemical weathering B. physical weathering C. exfoliation D. carbonation E. both A and C

A. chemical weathering

Igneous rocks can best be characterized as: A. rocks formed when molten magma soldifies B. rocks containing both feldspars and micas C. rocks formed from the recrystallization of sedimentary material D. rocks containing a mixture of primary and secondary minerals E. rocks found primarily near volcanoes

A. rocks formed when molten magma soldifies

Alluvial fans are usually characterized by ___ soils. A. sandy and gravelly B. clay textured C. poorly drained D. nearly level

A. sandy and gravelly

Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic are three ___. A. types of rocks B. basic classes of soil C. master horizon names D. forms of minerals E. processes of weathering

A. types of rocks

Silicate clay accumulation is most common in the ___ horizon. A. A B. B C. C D. O E. E

B. B

Which of the following statements is correct? A. Soils on hillsides tend to be deeper than those on level lands B. Lacustrine parent materials have been subject to weathering for shorter periods of time than residual parent materials nearby. C. Limestone parent materials enhance the process of acidification D. Nutrient cycling in forested areas contributes little to soil formation. E. Calcium carbonate accumulation is more prominent in humid than in arid regions.

B. Lacustrine parent materials have been subject to weathering for shorter periods of time than residual parent materials nearby.

The mixed angular gravel, rock, and soil found at the foot of a slope is typical of what type of parent material? A. eolian B. colluvial C. fluvial D. glacial E. lacustrine

B. colluvial

Residual parent materials are best described as ___. A. materials formed under organic residues B. materials formed by weathering of rocks and minerals in place C. materials transported from one location to another by water, ice, or wind D. materials more dominant in Iowa than in the Southern United States. E. upland materials formed with relatively little chemical weathering

B. materials formed by weathering of rocks and minerals in place C. materials

'Biotite - clay - iron oxide' represents a A. catena B. weathering sequence C. silicate mineral sequence D. both A and B E. none of the above

B. weathering sequence

Exfoliation is caused by changes in ___. A. hydration B. oxidation C. temperature D. carbon dioxide dissolution E. all of the above

C. temperature

Mechanical weathering processes result in: A. the decomposition of primary minerals B. the hydrolysis of minerals through frost action C. the disintegration of rocks due to differential expansion of minerals D. the oxidation of iron and manganese compounds

C. the disintegration of rocks due to differential expansion of minerals

Secondary minerals are most prominent in the ___ fraction of the soils. A. organic B. sand C. silt D. clay

D. clay

Which mineral is most resistant to weathering under humid temperate conditions? A. dolomite B. muscovite C. gypsum D. gibbsite E. biotite

D. gibbsite

Granite is an example of a(n) ___. A. primary mineral B. sedimentary rock C. secondary mineral D. igneous rock E. eolian parent material

D. igneous rock

Which of the following is not considered one of the five major factors influencing soil formation? A. native parent materials B. living organisms C. climate D. valence state E. topography

D. valence state

In which of the following horizons has the process of illuvation most likely occurred? A. O B. C C. A D. E E. B

E. B

Which of the following statements is not correct? A. Grasslands are found in semi-arid and sub-humid areas. B. Coniferous forests are found mostly in cool humid areas. C. The type of native vegetation is controlled primarily by climate. D. Dense forests are found soil profiles have a prominent O horizon. E. Tropical forests protect the soil from excessive weathering.

E. Tropical forests protect the soil from excessive weathering.

The transformation of gneiss into mica, quartz, and feldspar crystals is an example of: A. physical weathering B. chemical weathering C. disintegration D. hydrolysis E. both A and C

E. both A and C

Glacial till is a term used to describe parent materials that: A. were transported by water gushing from glacial fronts B. were laid down in the bottom of former glacial lakes C. were transported by high winds during glacial periods. D. are sorted by rapidly flowing melt waters. E. contain a heterogeneous mixture of mineral debris dropped by receding glaciers

E. contain a heterogeneous mixture of mineral debris dropped by receding glaciers

The element most often involved in oxidation reactions as minerals weather is ___. A. copper B. silicon C. aluminum D. magnesium E. iron

E. iron

A soil developed in transported parent materials will likely have properties relate to the properties of the rock below the C horizon.

False

Even if all glaciers present today in the world were to melt, the melt water would have no measurable effect on the level of the world's oceans.

False

Glacial till can be recognized by the distinct layering of different kinds of particles.

False

Iron and aluminum oxides are major components of igneous rocks.

False

Soils are developed in wind-blown parent materials such as loess are generally of little agricultural value.

False

The C horizons are generally more completely weathered than the other horizons.

False

The topmost horizon in most humid region forest soils is the A horizon.

False

Weathering of rocks usually is most intense in the center of a rock fragment, and gradually decreases toward the outside.

False

A soil developed in residual parent materials will likely have properties relate to the properties of the rock below the C horizon.

True

Climate influences not only the rate of weathering by the type of native vegetation dominant in an area.

True

Eluviation of clay, iron, and other materials is the principal process responsible for the formation of an E horizon.

True

Hydrolysis involves the splitting of water into its H and OH components while hydration attaches intact water molecules to a compound.

True

Igneous rocks are formed when molten magma cools and solidifies.

True

Marine sediments are typical parent materials in coastal plain areas.

True

Organic deposits are most common in areas where water flow over the soil surface is restricted.

True

Residual parent materials have generally been subjected to weathering for a longer period of time than have lacustrine or alluvial parent materials.

True

Sapric and fibric are terms used to describe pear parent materials.

True

The A horizons are more apt to be cultivated than the E horizons.

True

The O horizons of a soil are dominantly organic horizons occurring above mineral horizons.

True