PHS 101 Classroom Activities

Chapter 05 A Surface Veneer: Sedimentary Rocks --- KEY

Narrative Art Video: Forming Soil

Summary: This video defines what a soil is and describes the processes involved in the
formation of soil, including a discussion of weathering and the steps involved in the progressive
modification of materials (leaching, accumulation, bioturbation, etc.) that eventually create
different types of soils and distinct soil horizons. It also introduces the subject of soils, or to start
an in-class discussion on the importance of soil as a crucial natural resource. It could also be
used to supplement a reading assignment.

Review and Discussion Questions:

1. What are the different types of weathering and how are they important in soil formation?
Answer: Physical weathering includes jointing, exfoliation, frost wedging, salt wedging,
and root wedging. Chemical weathering includes dissolution, oxidation, and hydrolysis.
The many different types of physical and chemical weathering work together to break
down bedrock into sediments. Sediments form the basis for soil, along with organic
matter.

2. What are the processes that modify weathered Earth materials to make soil?
Answer: Sediment interacts with rainwater, air, organisms, and decaying organic matter
to form soil.

Narrative Art Video: Transgression and Regression

Summary: This video discusses marine and coastal plain depositional environments, and
illustrates what happens during marine transgressions and regressions. A full transgression and
regression sequence is shown, with an explanation of the accompanying stratigraphic record. It
introduces marine transgressions and regressions.

Review and Discussion Questions:

1. What causes sea level to rise and fall?
Answer: Changes in ice volume driven by Milankovitch Cycles were the primary drivers
of sea-level fluctuations during the last three million years. Rates of seafloor spreading
and short-term climate change also affects sea level.

2. Which National Park records some of the transgressions and regressions during the
Paleozoic?
Answer: The Grand Canyon.
Real World Video: Arctic Soil's Key to Future Climate
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Summary: This video shows the work of ecologist Matthew Wallenstein’s team from Colorado
State University at the Toolik Field Station, deep inside the Arctic Circle. There they drill soil
cores to find out more about how microbes in the soil are cycling carbon from the Earth to the
atmosphere. The video helps us to understand the role of soil in cycling carbon through the
Earth System.

Review and Discussion Questions:

1. How is carbon stored in the soil?
Answer: Carbon is stored in permafrost soil in the form of organic matter that isn’t
decomposing.

2. What functions do microbes in soil perform?

Answer: Microbes in soil decompose organic matter.

3. What feedback loop exists between microbes in permafrost and climate change?
Answer: As permafrost melts, due to rising temperatures caused by climate change, more
CO2 will be released to the atmosphere.

Think-Pair-Share Question: Clastic Sedimentary vs Chemical Sedimentary

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How are clastic sedimentary rocks different in appearance from chemical sedimentary rocks?
How might you recognize each?”

Answer: Clastic sedimentary rocks typically have a chunky appearance due to the fact that the
rocks are made of weathered fragments of other rocks and minerals. Chemical sedimentary rocks
may have a crystalline appearance (as in the case of rock salt or gypsum); they may also have a
fine-grained, layered appearance. Overall, clastic sedimentary rocks have a largely fragmental
texture (with variable clast sizes) and chemical sedimentary rocks do not, but have textures more
reminiscent of minerals precipitated from water.

In what environment would you find chemical sedimentary rocks? What about clastic
sedimentary rocks?

Answer: Chemical sedimentary rocks may form in caves or dried lakes in arid regions. Clastic
sedimentary rocks may form in streams, rivers, beaches, floodplains, alluvial fans, glaciated
areas, and deserts.

Think-Pair-Share Question: Soil Formation

How are soils formed and what processes are important in their formation?

Answer: Soils are formed through a variety of processes, including weathering and erosion of
Earth materials and the addition of air, water, and organic material. Soils are geologically
processed into distinct vertical horizons by the downward movement of water (leaching) and the
activity of living organisms. Soil type is dependent on geographic location (which affects factors
like climate and vegetation type), the types of materials that were weathered to make the soil,
slope steepness, and the amount of time a soil has been developing.

How are soils important to society?

Answer: Soils are required for agriculture, and agriculture feeds the world. Soils also sustain
forests, grasslands, tundra, and other natural resources.