Unit 2 Anchor Phenomenon Activity

Phenomenon
Types of Soil in Acadiana

Background Information
Soil can be categorized into three broad categories, as seen below.

Sand Silt Clay

Origin Eroded quartz and other Eroded quartz and feldspar Aluminum and silicate minerals
silicates formed in water
Particle Size Large Small Tiny
Carried by Rivers and ocean currents Rivers and streams, windblown Rivers and streams, windblown
Compaction Poor compaction Highly compacted
Useful for Construction, concrete, Primary soil for agriculture due Agriculture, sealant in civil
industrial applications to high nutrient content. engineering structures
Louisiana exclusively consists of sediment and sedimentary rocks. Sediments vary across Acadiana, with sediments in the
north and west being made primarily of clay, while sediments in the south and east are primarily silts. Sand deposits can
be found along former riverbeds throughout the region.

Instructions
Using the supplied microscopes, look at the six samples and draw what you see. Once you have completed this, analyze
the samples using your drawings looking for similarities and differences, where they were located in Acadiana, as well as
clues to help you answer the unit guiding questions.

Summary of Phenomenon
Summarize what you observed in a single sentence.

Observations
Sample A Sample B Sample C

Possible Source Location Possible Source Location Possible Source Location

 Sample D Sample E Sample F

Possible Source Location Possible Source Location Possible Source Location

Similarities Between Samples Differences Between Samples

Guiding Questions
How does the composition of matter relate to the characteristics and behaviors of matter?

How have geophysical processes created and shaped modern-day Louisiana?

What processes of the Earth cause the formation of minerals and rocks?

Explanation of Phenomenon
How do the soil samples from across Acadiana show the interactions of the guiding questions while observing the data?