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Week 11 Weathrrring

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface through processes like temperature changes, water, and biological activity. It does not involve transporting material away from the rock. There are three main types of weathering: physical, chemical, and biological. Physical weathering breaks rocks through temperature changes while chemical weathering uses reactions with water to form new minerals and salts. Erosion is different in that it involves moving rock material from one location to another by forces like wind, water, or ice.

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B16 Edison Heindrick Yanos
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38 views

Week 11 Weathrrring

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface through processes like temperature changes, water, and biological activity. It does not involve transporting material away from the rock. There are three main types of weathering: physical, chemical, and biological. Physical weathering breaks rocks through temperature changes while chemical weathering uses reactions with water to form new minerals and salts. Erosion is different in that it involves moving rock material from one location to another by forces like wind, water, or ice.

Uploaded by

B16 Edison Heindrick Yanos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Weathering

ESCI-2111 Earth Science


• Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s
surface, by the action of rainwater, extremes of
temperature, and biological activity. It does not involve
the removal of rock material
• There are three types of weathering, physical, chemical
and biological.
How is erosion different to weathering?
Erosion is the process by which soil and rock particles are
worn away and moved elsewhere by wind, water or ice.
Weathering involves no moving agent of transport
Physical Weathering

• Physical weathering is
caused by the effects of
changing temperature on
rocks, causing the rock to
break apart. The process
is sometimes assisted by
water.
Two main types of physical weathering:

• Freeze-thaw occurs when water continually seeps into


cracks, freezes and expands, eventually breaking the rock
apart
• Exfoliation occurs as cracks develop parallel to the land
surface a consequence of the reduction in pressure
during uplift and erosion.
Chemical Weathering

• Chemical weathering is caused by rain water reacting


with the mineral grains in rocks to form new minerals
(clays) and soluble salts. These reactions occur
particularly when the water is slightly acidic.
• Where does it occur? These chemical processes need
water, and occur more rapidly at higher temperature, so
warm, damp climates are best. Chemical weathering
(especially hydrolysis and oxidation) is the first stage in
the production of soils.
How does it occur?

• There are different types of chemical weathering, the most


important are:
• Solution - removal of rock in solution by acidic rainwater. In
particular, limestone is weathered by rainwater containing
dissolved CO2, (this process is sometimes called carbonation).
• Hydrolysis - the breakdown of rock by acidic water to produce
clay and soluble salts.
• Oxidation - the breakdown of rock by oxygen and water, often
giving iron-rich rocks a rusty-colored weathered surface.
Solution

Carbonation
• Carbon dioxide in the air
dissolves in rainwater and
becomes weakly acidic.
• This weak “carbonic acid” is able
to dissolve limestone as it seeps
into cracks and cavities. Over many
years, solution of the rock can
form spectacular cave systems
Acid rain
• Polluting gases, like sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxide
dissolve in rainwater to make
stronger acids. When this
rainwater falls, we get acid rain.
This acid attacks many rock types,
both by solution and hydrolysis,
seriously damaging buildings and
monuments.
Hydrolysis
• Hydrolysis takes place when acid rain
reacts with rock-forming minerals such as
feldspar to produce clay and salts that
are removed in solution.
• The only common rock-forming mineral
that is not affected is quartz, which is a
chemically resistant mineral. This is why
quartz and clay are the two of the most
common minerals in sedimentary rocks.
Spheroidal weathering
• The weird shapes form as water attacks the rock along
joints and cracks, leaving rounded lumps of un-
weathered rock.
• The iron-rich minerals in the rock have also oxidized to
a brown “rusty” color
Biological Weathering

Trees put down roots through


joints or cracks in the rock in
order to find moisture. As the
tree grows, the roots gradually
prize the rock apart.
• Even the tiniest bacteria, algae
and lichens produce chemicals
that help break down the rock on
which they live, so they can get
the nutrients they need.
How do fossils form?

Many animals, such as these


Piddock shells, bore into rocks
for protection either by
scraping away the grains or
secreting acid to dissolve the
rock.
References

https://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/fossils/intro/form.htm

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=2784efd62c0141deac433a4a31cb9
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