Soil Formation and Weathering

Start with soil formation

The Formation of Soil mind map is a useful place to begin. It sets out influences on soil formation, including parent material, weathering, climate, land features, plants and animals. Read through the branches and consider how each influence relates to the soil being formed.

Next, compare it with Factors Influencing Soil Formation. This map also includes soil texture, soil color and different forms of humus. Comparing the maps can help you see which ideas appear in both and which details each adds.

Explore rocks and weathering

The Weathering and Soil mind map connects minerals and rocks with the rock cycle. It includes mineral properties and the formation of igneous and sedimentary rock. Use it alongside Soil Formation Processes, which covers the breakdown of rocks, weathering and erosion.

For term practice, the untitled flashcard deck includes mechanical weathering, ice wedging, chemical weathering, soil, topography and humus. Work through the terms after looking at the maps, returning to a branch when you want more context.

Check your understanding

The listed quizzes offer a way to work with the material after reading. One quiz includes questions about quartz, weathering and soil solution. Try those questions after studying the maps, then return to the relevant branches to check the ideas you want to review.

You can also look at Key Points Review Chapter 2, a quiz listed on the page. Keep a note of the terms you want to study further and compare them with the flashcards and maps.

Use this section of Soils

Soil Formation and Weathering is a section of the Soils unit in Geology and earth sciences. The resources here give you different ways to study the section: maps for connections, flashcards for terms and quizzes for questions. Pick a resource that suits the way you want to study today.