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THE LITHOSPHERE
THE LITHOSPHERE - 100 KM THICK! (P.184)
 The
hard shell of the Earth, consisting of the
crust and the topmost part of the upper
mantle.
 Contains
minerals and rocks!
MINERALS VS ROCKS ? (P.184-185)
Minerals: Solid inorganic substance occurring naturally
on Earth. They all have a very specific atomic
structures, properties and composition. They each
form specific crystals!
Bismuth
(a single element)
Copper Sulfate (CuSO4)
(several elements)
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION (P.185 TO 187)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
They are classified according to specific properties such
as:
Colour : idiochromatic VS allochromatic
Transparency: Allowing light to pass through it!
(transparent VS translucent)
Hardness: Mohs scale: 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond)
Streak: They can leave a powder trace when
rubbed certain surfaces
SOME MINERALS FLUORESCE UNDER
UV LIGHT!
MINING! (P.187 TO 189)
 The
extracted material is called the ORE and
contains the substance sought-after!
 When the concentration of the substance is
high enough to be mined, the mineral layer (in
the ground) is called a DEPOSIT.
500 kg of ore are
required to
produce a 6-gram
gold ring!
WHY ARE WE ALWAYS TALKING
ABOUT RINGS?
OPEN-PIT MINES VS
UNDERGROUND
MINES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVQWFmy2A_k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NlyaDAtGwI
AND WHAT ABOUT ROCKS? (P189.-190)
 Definition:
Heterogeneous solid
composed of many minerals. Their
properties are not strictly defined.
 They
are formed
by water pressure
and volcanic
activity.
3 SPECIFIC TYPES OF ROCKS!
Igneous
rocks
Sedimentary rocks
Metamorphic rocks
1) IGNEOUS ROCKS (P.190)
 Formed
when the magma cools and solidifies!
 Formed either at the surface of the earth or
below the ground.
 VERY HARD!
2 types
intrusive
extrusive
2) SEDIMENTARY ROCKS (P.190)
 Formed
by the accumulation and compaction
of debris.
 Many years of EROSION are required!
 Under pressure, lower
layers are compacted
THE GRAND CANYON…..
OR THE BADLANDS!
3) METAMORPHIC ROCKS (P.191)
 Former
igneous or sedimentary rocks that
have been transformed by heat or pressure.
 Gneiss
is initially granite!
SOIL HORIZONS (LAYERS OF SOILS) (P.192)

Soil comes from parent rock which makes up the
solid part of the earth’s crust.
Organic matter (humus)
Topsoil (contains minerals and
humus which support plant life)
Subsoil (small mineral particles,
supply nutrients to tree roots)
Fragmented parent rock
(disintegration of parent rock)
Parent rock (starting point for soil
formation)
SOIL HORIZONS
 Soil
horizons are differentiated
layers.
 Soil
 It
absorbs, filters and stores
water.
also contains all kinds of different matter
as well as air, small living organism, and
microorganisms that decompose organic
matter, creating nutrients for plant life.
SOIL FERTILITY (REMEMBER!)

Soil must: 1) Contain minerals
2) Have adequate moisture
3) Have an appropriate pH
(affects the plant’s ability to
absorb mineral nutrients)
PERMAFROST:
In northern regions, large expanses of soil are
permanently frozen (0oC or lower for at least two
years).
 The upper layer or active layer of permafrost will
sometimes thaw in the summer and allow certain
plants to grow.

PERMAFROST:
CONSEQUENCES OF MELTING PERMAFROST
Global warming is thawing permafrost
 This causes:
 softening of the soil, which can damage buildings
 landslides
 methane (a greenhouse gas) trapped underneath
permafrost can be released, contributing even more
to global warming!

HOW IS NEUTRALIZATION RELEVANT WITH SOIL?
Example:
Buffering capacity of soil
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BASIC
When soil is too acidic/too alkaline, it hinders plant
growth because the roots cannot absorb nutrients
properly
Plants generally adapt to soil with a pH between 6
and 7.
Soil has the ability to neutralize
a certain amount of acidic or
alkaline substances without
affecting its pH
This is called the soil’s buffering
capacity
It allows soil to compensate, to a certain extent, for
variations in pH
LITHOSPHERE ENERGY RESOURCES
We can harvest energy from the Earth’s lithosphere:
Energy
Renewable?
Pros
Fossil fuels
(ex: coal, oil)
No
Geothermal
Yes
No pollution
Nuclear
(ex: uranium)
No
Large amount of
energy
Easily
accessible
Cons
Green house gas
emissions
Expensive
installation
Nuclear waste