1. Ch 6 - Earth and Space
The Lithosphere

3. Lithosphere
Def’n: The solid layer of the Earth. It contains the crust and the upper mantle.

4. Why is it important?
Mining, agriculture, and energy resources

5. Minerals Inorganic, pure and homogenous Naturally occurring
Distinct chemical composition
Identically shaped crystal
To identify, we examine its:
Hardness, colour, transparency, density and streak

9. Rocks Rocks are mixtures
Heterogeneous solids composed of different types of minerals
Not characteristic (there are many different compositions)
3 types of rock: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic

10. Ore
Def’n: ore is a rock which contains valuable minerals tha we want to extract
A deposit is when there is enough valuable mineral at a specific location for mining to occur
Quebec has many element deposits (gold, copper, iron etc)
How gold is mined:

11. Types of Rocks Igneous: Sedimentary: Metamorphic
Formed from cooled magma that has solidified
Sedimentary:
Small debris which has accumulated and compacted over time
Metamorphic
Rocks transformed due to high heat and pressure

12. Rock Cycle
Everything eventually transforms….

13. Rocks to soil (dirt)
Through wind and water erodes rock. Freeze and thaw also erodes rock.
Soil (a mixture) is produced over time. It develops and thickens over time and forms layers (soil horizons)
Approx. 200 years to form a layer of soil 1 cm thick

14. Soil Horizons O: Organic Matter A: Topsoil (Surface)
Mostly organic matter
Decomposing plants and animals
A: Topsoil (Surface)
Supports plants
Mix of minerals and organic matter
Contains humus

15. Soil Horizons B: Subsoil C: Fragmented parent rock (Substratum)
Small mineral particles
Trees with deep roots absorb the minerals
C: Fragmented parent rock (Substratum)
Chunks of rock from layer below
Little or no plant life

16. Soil Horizons R: Unaltered Parent Rock (bedrock) Humus def’n:
Starting point of soil formation
Humus def’n:
Organic component of soil, formed by decomposition of leaves and other plant matter by soil microorganisms

18. Soil Fertility Sufficient amount of minerals and organic matter
Sufficient amount of moisture (water)
Appropriate pH
Appropriate pH is maintained by soils with good buffering capacity