What is dirt?
Many people think of dirt as a nuisance. Something which gets tracked into the house and must be vacuumed up, wiped off, swept out, or otherwise eliminated. Yet dirt is completely necessary for human survival. Dirt, or "soil" as horticulturists would say, sustains the vast majority of oxygen producing plants which not only feed us, but also keep the planet's air breathable.
Dirt is actually quite complex, and varies greatly from one place to another. For example, in arid areas of the Southwestern US will have very different soil compositions than areas in the Northeast.
Even the richest soils contain at least some rock and mineral substances. These are created over the millenia through geological and organic action. During ice ages, huge glaciers build up, obtaining heights of over a mile high. As they retreat they grind rocks against eachother, breaking them into small, sometimes microscopic pieces. Frost shattering is another process by which nature breaks down rocks. As rocks cool, they attract water, which then crystalizes. The expansionary force of crystalization eventually breaks off small pieces. Oceans are major contributors as well, continually pounding the surf with over 1000 terawatts of combined energy per hour. As time goes on, land areas which once faced the ocean may wind up dozens or even hundreds of miles inland, through the collision of continental shelves or simply through the gradual deposition of sand and silt from rivers. The mineral components of soil are generally classified into one of three types depending on size and composition.
Sand particles are the largest of what are properly considered soil components. The size range is usually taken to be from 65 microns (a micron is one thousanth of a millimeter) to 2 millimeters. Deposits larger than sand and less than 65 millimeters are generally classified as gravel. The exact composition of sand depends upon the sources and conditions. The famed white sand of tropical coastlines is usually composed of eroded limestone combined with small fragments of shells and coral reef. Dark sands are usually formed from vocanic basalts and obsidian. The largest single constituent of sand is generally quartz which may be found in isolation or as a component of rocks like sandstone and granite.
Silt particles are intermediate in size, ranging between 2 and 64 microns. Because they are so small they tend to remain suspended in water for extended periods creating the "turbid" or cloudy appearance of many large rivers. The Mississippi and the Nile are known for having large amounts of silt. Indeed the very fertile silt left from the Nile's annual floods were the basis of ancient Egyptian agriculture.
Clays are another component of many soils. In general, deposits with a particle size of less than 2 microns are considered clay. Clay is quite plastic and maleable when wet. However, unlike silt which becomes dusty, clays become firm when dry. It is this property which has proven so useful to humans. Once "fired", or heated at high temperatures, the silicates within clay fuse, becoming strong and durable. Clay has been in use for thousands of years for creating bowls, urns, plates and other items useful to people. This craft has evolved over the centuries into a highly sophisticated science which is still in use today. Responsible for everything from space craft exteriors (e.g. FRCI tiles) to ceramic toilets.
Humus is quite different from the other components of soil because it is composed of organic rather than silicate based materials. Essentially it is the residues of living things, such as leaves, grass, roots, bark, and even dead animals that are in the process of decomposition by microorganisms. It also includes the remnants of those organisms once they expire.
Humus not only improves nutrient flow to plants, it also improves the ability of soil to hold moisture and resist erosion. The best soils are rich in humus.
But humus is also the "dirtiest" of soil materials, dark in color and rife with microorganisms, it is not necessarily something you want on your kitchen floor!
If you are interested in a professional Vermont house cleaning service please go to our contact page and let us know. Nancy will be happy to discuss with you the details of your cleaning project.
Dirt is actually quite complex, and varies greatly from one place to another. For example, in arid areas of the Southwestern US will have very different soil compositions than areas in the Northeast.
Even the richest soils contain at least some rock and mineral substances. These are created over the millenia through geological and organic action. During ice ages, huge glaciers build up, obtaining heights of over a mile high. As they retreat they grind rocks against eachother, breaking them into small, sometimes microscopic pieces. Frost shattering is another process by which nature breaks down rocks. As rocks cool, they attract water, which then crystalizes. The expansionary force of crystalization eventually breaks off small pieces. Oceans are major contributors as well, continually pounding the surf with over 1000 terawatts of combined energy per hour. As time goes on, land areas which once faced the ocean may wind up dozens or even hundreds of miles inland, through the collision of continental shelves or simply through the gradual deposition of sand and silt from rivers. The mineral components of soil are generally classified into one of three types depending on size and composition.
Sand particles are the largest of what are properly considered soil components. The size range is usually taken to be from 65 microns (a micron is one thousanth of a millimeter) to 2 millimeters. Deposits larger than sand and less than 65 millimeters are generally classified as gravel. The exact composition of sand depends upon the sources and conditions. The famed white sand of tropical coastlines is usually composed of eroded limestone combined with small fragments of shells and coral reef. Dark sands are usually formed from vocanic basalts and obsidian. The largest single constituent of sand is generally quartz which may be found in isolation or as a component of rocks like sandstone and granite.
Silt particles are intermediate in size, ranging between 2 and 64 microns. Because they are so small they tend to remain suspended in water for extended periods creating the "turbid" or cloudy appearance of many large rivers. The Mississippi and the Nile are known for having large amounts of silt. Indeed the very fertile silt left from the Nile's annual floods were the basis of ancient Egyptian agriculture.
Clays are another component of many soils. In general, deposits with a particle size of less than 2 microns are considered clay. Clay is quite plastic and maleable when wet. However, unlike silt which becomes dusty, clays become firm when dry. It is this property which has proven so useful to humans. Once "fired", or heated at high temperatures, the silicates within clay fuse, becoming strong and durable. Clay has been in use for thousands of years for creating bowls, urns, plates and other items useful to people. This craft has evolved over the centuries into a highly sophisticated science which is still in use today. Responsible for everything from space craft exteriors (e.g. FRCI tiles) to ceramic toilets.
Humus is quite different from the other components of soil because it is composed of organic rather than silicate based materials. Essentially it is the residues of living things, such as leaves, grass, roots, bark, and even dead animals that are in the process of decomposition by microorganisms. It also includes the remnants of those organisms once they expire.
Humus not only improves nutrient flow to plants, it also improves the ability of soil to hold moisture and resist erosion. The best soils are rich in humus.
But humus is also the "dirtiest" of soil materials, dark in color and rife with microorganisms, it is not necessarily something you want on your kitchen floor!
If you are interested in a professional Vermont house cleaning service please go to our contact page and let us know. Nancy will be happy to discuss with you the details of your cleaning project.