Soil vocab

2. type of sand that is formed when water evaporates, minerals come out of the water solution, also called oolitic sand
6. below B, made up of partially broken rocks, plant roots do not grow here and very little humus is found
7. solid rock found below all other layers
12. the removal of minerals and clay as water drips through the soil
14. type of sand that is made of the remains of marine organisms and takes less time to form than other types of sand, occurring only in tropical regions
15. individual sand grains that consist of only one material
17. alkaline soil with mineral stones
19. layers of soil that form parallel to Earth's surface
21. individual sand grains that are made of more than one mineral
23. layer beheath humus; mixture of humus and mineral particles where seeds sprout and plant roots grow; also called A horizon
24. made up of a mixture of sand, silt, and clay

1. the smallest type of soil particles that have the capacity to absorb and hold water
3. type of sand composed mostly of quartz, mica, feldspar and dark minerals like hornblende and magnetitie
4. granules of fine rock particles
5. naturally occurring crystalline solids formed over time on Earth
8. type of sand usually dark as a result of the presence of black basalt or green olivine, comes from mid-ocean volcanoes or hot-spot volcanoes and is very young sand
9. a hard substance made up of minerals
10. layer below topsoil made of mostly sand and silt because water dripping through the soil carries away minerals and clay
11. formation of soil through the action of wind and water on rocks
13. the study of soil and rocks
16. a mixture of minerals, water, gases, and the remains of dead organisms that covers the top layer of Earth's crust
18. more than 20% decaying organic material
19. material in the uppermost horizon of soil made up of decaying remains of plants and animals also called the O horizon
20. also called B horizon, below E, contains clay and mineral deposits that were carried with water from layers above
22. a type of soil whose particles are larger than clay and smaller than sand