Geology 210 Class Preparation Questions

Soils and Clay Minerals

What are the defining characteristics of each of the following soil horizons?

O, A, B, C, K

How does soil pH vary with depth?

What controls pH of soils?

What are the elvuial and illuvial horizons?

How are materials transported vertically in soils?

What are the chemical and structural characteristics of the following clay minerals?

kaolinite, illite, smectite, vermiculite, chlorite, gibbsite

What is the relationship between climate, weathering rate and occurrence of different types of clay minerals?