Unit 7: Minerals, Mining, Soil Formation, and Conservation Vocabulary

Edit Answers
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
Across
  1. 3. tillage – farmers disturb soil and plant cover as little as possible
  2. 6. - The layer of soil beneath the topsoil, containing higher levels of minerals and nutrients.
  3. 7. – catch and hold water to slow soil erosion
  4. 9. - The process of converting waste materials into reusable materials to prevent them from being discarded as trash.
  5. 13. - The tendency of a mineral to break along smooth, flat surfaces.
  6. 14. buffers –waterways and riparian buffers promote biodiversity
  7. 16. Rock - The original rock from which soil is formed through weathering and erosion processes.
  8. 17. - The solid layer of rock beneath soil, serves as the parent material for soil formation.
  9. 18. – loss of thin uniform layers of soil over a full field
  10. 21. - The flow of water over the surface of the ground, often carrying soil and pollutants with it.
  11. 22. – rows of trees or shrubs are used to prevent wind erosion
  12. 25. - channels / depressions that form in the same place each year
  13. 26. weathering - The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.
  14. 27. – channels or rills forming runoff, randomly located
  15. 28. - Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface,solidifies to form igneous rocks.
Down
  1. 1. - Natural substances found in the Earth that have specific chemical compositions and crystal structures.
  2. 2. – erosion of the sides of a stream over time
  3. 4. - Actions or practices that can be continued indefinitely without depleting natural resources or harming the environment.
  4. 5. – large channels not able to be repaired by tilling of fields
  5. 6. - Soil moves through the air like in a dust storm.
  6. 8. plowing – farmers plant fields along the curves of a slope
  7. 10. layer - A dry, nutrient-poor layer of soil formed when water leaches minerals and nutrients downward, leaving the upper layers barren.
  8. 11. weathering - The process by which rocks are broken down through chemical reactions, leading to changes in their composition.
  9. 12. - The way a mineral breaks apart when it doesn't break along cleavage planes, resulting in uneven or rough surfaces.
  10. 15. - Grains of soil bounce across the ground.
  11. 19. - Small soil particles roll or slide while maintaining contact with the ground.
  12. 20. - The upper layer of soil containing a mix of organic matter and minerals, where most plant roots grow.
  13. 23. – a stair step effect is created to slow water runoff
  14. 24. rotation – farmers plant different crops in a field every year
  15. 25. - The process by which soil and rock are worn away and transported by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice.