soil and weathering Crossword

The process by which natural forces break down rocks and soil.
the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces of the same material without any change to its composition.
the process in which layers or sheets of rock gradually break off.
the process of wearing something down by friction.
breakdown or decomposition of rock that takes place when minerals change through chemical processes.
a chemical reaction in which an element combines with oxygen to form oxide; iron oxide=rust.
the process by which rainwater dissolves and carries away the minerals and nutrients in topsoil.
the makeup of rock or soil describing the minerals or elements present in it.
a soil layer with physical and chemical properties that differ from those of the soil layers above or below it.
the decaying organic matter in soil.
the top layer of soil that contains humus.
layer of rock beneath the soil.
the process in which transported sediment is laid down.
the process in which sediment is picked up and moved from one place to another.
the size, shape, and position of the particals in the soil.
the ability to let water pass through.
the amount of open space between an object.
the expansion of desert conditions in an area where the natural plant cover has been destroyed.