Science Crossword Puzzle

4. the process in which sediment is picked up and moved from one place to another
9. the decaying organic matter in soil
10. the size, shape, and position of the particles of soil
11. a chemical reaction in which an element combines with oxygen to form an oxide; iron oxide = rust
12. the expansion of desert conditions in an area where the natural plant cover has been destroyed
14. the process by which rainwater dissolves and carries away minerals and nutrients in topsoil
15. horizon a soil layer with physical and chemical properties that differ from those of the soil layers above or below it
17. the amount of open space between an object
18. layer of rock beneath the soil

1. the makeup of rock or soil describing the minerals or elements present in it
2. the process in which transported sediment is laid down
3. weathering the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces of the same material without any change to its composition
5. the process by which natural forces break down rocks and soil
6. the process in which layers or sheets of rock gradually break off
7. the process of wearing something down by friction
8. the ability to let water pass through
13. weathering breakdown or decomposition of rock that takes place when minerals change through chemical processes
16. the top layer of soil that contains humus