What is soil?

Soil is a mixture of broken rocks and minerals, living organisms, and decaying organic matter called
humus. Humus is dark, soft and rich in nutrients. Soil also includes air and water.

Organisms in the soil need air and water to survive. Having these essential materials - air, water, and
organic matter - makes it possible for plants, bacteria, fungi and small animals like earthworms and
insects to live in the soil.

Differences of Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic rocks.

All the living things in the soil, plus essential materials that these organisms use to survive, form the soil
ecosystem. Scientists study the soil ecosystem because they want to understand how organisms relate to
one another and to the environment that surrounds them.

Igneous rock , formed by the cooling of magma (molten rock) inside the Earth or on the surface.
Sedimentary rocks, formed from the products of weathering by cementation or precipitation on the
Earth's surface. Metamorphic rocks, formed by temperature and pressure changes inside the Earth.

Igneous rock

Ex. Dacite is a fine-grained, extrusive igneous rock that is usually light in color. It has a composition that is
intermediate between rhyolite and andesite. The specimen shown is about four inches (ten centimeters)
across.

Basalt is a fine-grained, dark-colored extrusive igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and
pyroxene. The specimen shown is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Sedimentary rock

Ex. Chert is a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline sedimentary rock material composed of silicon dioxide
(SiO2). It occurs as nodules and concretionary masses, and less frequently as a layered deposit. It breaks
with a conchoidal fracture, often producing very sharp edges. Early people took advantage of how chert
breaks and used it to fashion cutting tools and weapons. The specimen shown above is about two inches
(five centimeters) acroMetamorphic

Breccia is a clastic sedimentary rock that is composed of large (over two-millimeter diameter) angular
fragments. The spaces between the large fragments can be filled with a matrix of smaller particles or a
mineral cement which binds the rock together. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five
centimeters) across.

Metamorphic rock
 Ex. Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock that has a banded appearance and is made up of granular
mineral grains. It typically contains abundant quartz or feldspar minerals. The specimen shown above is
about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Anthracite is the highest rank of coal. It has been exposed to enough heat and pressure that most of
the oxygen and hydrogen have been driven off, leaving a high-carbon material behind. It has a bright,
lustrous appearance and breaks with a semi-conchoidal fracture. It is often referred to as "hard coal";
however, this is a layman's term and has little to do with the hardness of the rock. The specimen shown
above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Lapis Lazuli, the famous blue gem material, is actually a metamorphic rock. Most people are surprised
to learn that, so we added it to this photo collection as a surprise. Blue rocks are rare, and we bet that it
captured your eye. The round objects in the photo are lapis lazuli beads about 9/16 inch (14 millimeters)
in diameter.

How does the soil form?

Soil is the thin layer of material covering the earth’s surface and is formed from the weathering of
rocks. It is made up mainly of mineral particles, organic materials, air, water and living organisms—all of
which interact slowly yet constantly.

Characteristics of Soil
The study of soil is called pedology. Soil is composed of both organic and inorganic matter, and it is
essential for life on earth to exist. The soil type that i have studied is brown earths. Brown earths are the
most common soil type in Ireland and are very fertile. Soils are a composition of mineral particles 45% ,
organic matter 5% , air 25% , and water 25% .

Mineral Particles:

Mineral particles are the largest ingredient and make up approx 45% of soils . They are the original rock
that got broken down by weathering and erosion to form the basis of soil. The type of rock that was
broken down to form it is called the parent rock. The broken down rock produces minerals such as
calcium, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil on which the plants feed. The parent material influences
the soil colour, depth, texture and ph value

Organic Matter:

Organic matter is decayed vegetation that is broken down by micro organisms in the soil to form humus .
Humus is a dark jelly like substance that binds the soil together and improves its texture. It increases the
soils ability to retain moisture.

Air and Water:

Air is vital for the survival of micro-organisms and without theses, there would be a shortage of humus.
Brown earths have a granular structure which allow for good aeration.

Brown earths are fertile and very suitable for agriculture. Their suitability for agriculture are due to their
characteristics of good texture, dark colour, and ph value .

Texture:

Texture is how a sol feels when you touch it. The proportions of sand silt and clay determines the soils
texture.

Colour:

Lighter coloured soils deflect sunlight while dark soils absorb more light. This allows the soil to heat up
much more quickly and encourages seed germination and crop growth, Heat is also important in the
humification process

PH Value:

PH scale measure the acidity of a substance. The ideal PH value for agriculture is 6.5 which is slightly
acidic. A soil which is too acidic lacks calcium and potassium which are essential for growth and has low
levels of organisms which are vital for humification.