Teachers Guid 10 – Rocks and Soil Glossary

Bedrock: The solid rock that is found once you have dug through all the layers of soil.

Clay soil Soil that has a high proportion of clay.

Horizon A layer of soil in a soil profile

Igneous A rock formed from magma either inside the Earth or on the surface

Impermeable A rock is impermeable if it doesn’t let water in/through.

Teachers Guid 10 – Rocks and Soil Glossary

Loam Soil A soil which is a fairly even mixture of sand, clay and silt.

Magma A mixture of molten or semi-molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth

Mineral A precise mix of chemical ‘elements’ which are organised in a very specific way.

Metamorphic A rock formed when existing rock is changed through heat and pressure.

Non-porous Not allowing liquid or air to pass through it

Teachers Guid 10 – Rocks and Soil Glossary

Organic material

Dead or decaying matter found at the top of soil. This lies just on top of the topsoil.

Parent material

The broken rock from which a soil is formed. It is found at the bottom of a soil profile.

Peat A dark soil that is mainly made from partly decayed plant material.

Permeable A permeable rock is one that allows water to pass in/through.

Porous Having many pores or other small spaces that can hold a gas or liquid or allow it to pass through.

Teachers Guid 10 – Rocks and Soil Glossary

Rock A solid formed of the particles of one or more minerals.

Rock cycle The movement and recycling of rocks by nature. Rocks change from one type to another during this process.

Sandy Soil Soil that has a high proportion of sand.

Sedimentary Rock

Rock formed when layers of mineral particles are squashed together

Silt Fine rock particles that are not as fine as clay, but not as coarse as sand

Teachers Guid 10 – Rocks and Soil Glossary

Soil Profile The various layers if soil from organic matter on top to the bedrock at the bottom.

Top Soil The first proper layer or horizon of soil which is found when you dig into soil.