Name__________________________________________
KEY WORD
KEY TERMS STUDY GUIDE
INFORMATION/DEFINITION
2. soil composition
Earth material that contains
rocks of different sizes and
organic matter
The specific ingredients in a
sample of soil
3. weathering
Wearing down of rocks by
natural forces
4. decompose
The breaking down of dead
plants and animals
5. nutrients
Essential elements needed for
plant growth
1.
soil
UNIT: SOIL/ROCKS/MINERALS
MEMORY AID
Name__________________________________________
KEY WORD
KEY TERMS STUDY GUIDE
INFORMATION/DEFINITION
6. organic matter
Decomposing plants and
animals
7. sand
Largest pieces of weathered
rock
8. silt
Medium sized pieces of
weathered rock
9. clay
Smallest pieces of weathered
rock
10. consistence
How easily a soil’s clumps
break apart
11. texture
How a sample of soil feels
(based on the size of its
particles)
UNIT: SOIL/ROCKS/MINERALS
MEMORY AID
Name__________________________________________
KEY WORD
KEY TERMS STUDY GUIDE
INFORMATION/DEFINITION
13. Dust Bowl
Soil colors vary from grayish
to yellow: to deep red brown
to black
Huge dust storms in the U.S.
Plains in the 1930’s
14. native
Naturally found in an
environment
12. color (of soil)
15. fertilizer
16. desert
soil
17. forest soil
Material added to soil to
increase its ability to grow
plants
Dry, firm, grainy soil found in
hot and dry locations
Dark, loose, silky soil that is
moist and good for farming
UNIT: SOIL/ROCKS/MINERALS
MEMORY AID
Name__________________________________________
KEY WORD
18. grassland soil
19. rocks
20. minerals
21. geologist
22. translucent
21. transparent
KEY TERMS STUDY GUIDE
INFORMATION/DEFINITION
Reddish, loose, and silky soil
that contains a lot of nutrients
and is good for farming
A naturally occurring solid
substance that contains one or
more minerals
Naturally occurring
crystalline, non-living solid
material with specific
properties
A scientist who studies
changes on and under the
earth’s surface
Transmitting light partially,
semitransparent
Ability to transmit light
clearly so an object can be
seen through it
UNIT: SOIL/ROCKS/MINERALS
MEMORY AID
Name__________________________________________
KEY WORD
24. opaque
25. fluorite
26. properties
27. luster
28. Mohs Hardness Scale
KEY TERMS STUDY GUIDE
INFORMATION/DEFINITION
A material that is not able to
transmit light (you cannot see
through it)
A mineral that can form
octahedral crystals
The characteristics of an
element; such as the physical
qualities: color, hardness,
crystal shape
The shininess of a mineral
- scale to rate hardness
-talc (1) to diamond (10)
-objects with higher ratings
can scratch object with lower
ratings
UNIT: SOIL/ROCKS/MINERALS
MEMORY AID
Name__________________________________________
KEY WORD
29. streak color
KEY TERMS STUDY GUIDE
INFORMATION/DEFINITION
The color shown by rubbing
one mineral against another
31. crystalline structure
Changes in direction of light;
seeing one image or two
through an object
The regular pattern of atoms,
molecules, or ions in a crystal
32. transparency
How much light can be seen
through an object
33. rock cycle
Ongoing process forms and
breaks down rocks
34. magma
Molten rock found beneath
the earth’s surface
30. light refraction
UNIT: SOIL/ROCKS/MINERALS
MEMORY AID
Name__________________________________________
KEY WORD
KEY TERMS STUDY GUIDE
INFORMATION/DEFINITION
35. igneous
Rocks formed from the
cooling of magma
36. metamorphic
Rocks formed by changing
heat and/or pressure
37. sedimentary
38. sediment
39. fossils
40. erosion
Rocks formed from sediments
that have been cemented
together
Small bits of decomposed
earth materials such as rocks,
minerals, and shells
Plant or animal remains that
form an imprint during the
gradual layering of sediment
The movement of earth
material from one place to
another, commonly caused by
water or wind
UNIT: SOIL/ROCKS/MINERALS
MEMORY AID