Rocks, Soil, and Minerals Notes

SOIL

•      Soil makes up the outermost layer of our planet.

•      Topsoil is the most productive soil layer.

Figure 34: Soil- Outermost layer of Earth

•      This is the layer where plants grow and is the layer we see.

Formation of Soil:

•      The formation of soil happens over a very long period of time.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS

•      All rocks are made of two or more minerals, but minerals are not made of rocks.

•      There are about 3,000 known minerals on the Earth.

•      Quartz is one of the most common minerals found on Earth, and basalt is the most common rock.

•      Diamond is the hardest natural substance on Earth, and a diamond is used to cut another diamond.

•      Marble forms from metamorphosed rock, most usually limestone.

•      Gold is extremely soft and one of the most valuable minerals.

•      Feldspar is a term used for a very large group of minerals which are extremely abundant on Earth.