5: Weathering and Soil (Exercises)
- Page ID
- 2044
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Q5.1 Mechanical weathering
See below
Examples of mechanical weathering [SE]
Q5.2 Chemical weathering
| Chemical change | Process |
|---|---|
| Pyrite to hematite | oxidation |
| Calcite to calcium and bicarbonate ions | dissolution |
| Feldspar to clay | hydrolysis |
| Olivine to serpentine | hydrolysis |
| Pyroxene to iron oxide | oxidation |
Q5.3 Describe the weathering origins of sands
| Sand description | Possible processes |
|---|---|
| Fragments of coral etc. from a shallow water area near to a reef in Belize | Reefs are constantly being eroded by ocean waves, and the fragments are washed inshore by currents and then further eroded by wave action. |
| Angular quartz and rock fragments from a glacial stream deposit near Osoyoos | Quartz-bearing rocks have been eroded and transported by a glacier. The fragments may have been moved a short distance by a stream, but not enough to produce rounding. |
| Rounded grains of olivine and volcanic glass from a beach in Hawaii | The olivine and glass grains are eroded by waves from volcanic rock and then thoroughly rounded by waves on the beach |
Q5.4 The soils of Canada
| Soil type | Distribution | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Chernozem | Southern prairies | These are dry-climate soils developed on grasslands |
| Luvisol | Northern prairies and BC interior | Soils developed on sedimentary rocks in cool moist climates |
| Podsol | Mountainous parts of BC and large parts of northern Ontario and Quebec | Areas with coniferous forests and moderate climates |
| Brunisol | Boreal forest regions | Cold forested regions with discontinuous permafrost |
| Organic | Hudson Bay and James Bay lowlands | Wetland areas with widespread swamps |