Soil And Weathering

4. weathering breakdown or decomposition of rock that takes place when minerals change through chemical processes
6. the process in which sediment is picked up and moved from one place to another
7. horizon a soil layer with physical and chemical properties that differ from those of the soil layers above or below it
10. the process by which natural forces break down rocks and soil
13. the process by which rainwater dissolves and carries away minerals and nutrients in topsoil
15. the ability to let water pass through
16. the makeup of rock or soil describing the minerals or elements present in it
17. the decaying organic matter in soil
18. a chemical reaction in which an element combines with oxygen to form an oxide; iron oxide = rust

1. the size, shape, and position of the particles of soil
2. the process of wearing something down by friction
3. the process in which transported sediment is laid down
5. weathering the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces of the same material without any change to its composition
8. layer of rock beneath the soil
9. the expansion of desert conditions in an area where the natural plant cover has been destroyed
11. the process in which layers or sheets of rock gradually break off
12. the amount of open space between an object
14. the top layer of soil that contains humus