WEATHERING WEATHERING

Weathering is the process of breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface, by Weathering is the process of breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface, by
the action of water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, gravity and changing the action of water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, gravity and changing
temperatures. There are three types of weathering: physical weathering, temperatures. There are three types of weathering: physical weathering,
chemical weathering, and biological weathering. chemical weathering, and biological weathering.

Agents of Weathering Agents of Weathering

Water Water
Either in liquid or solid form is one of the agents of mechanical weathering. Either in liquid or solid form is one of the agents of mechanical weathering.
In liquid form, it seeped into cracks and crevices of rocks and when the In liquid form, it seeped into cracks and crevices of rocks and when the
temperature dropped, it freezes and definitely will expand in the form of ice. temperature dropped, it freezes and definitely will expand in the form of ice.

Salt Salt

In the process of haloclasty, salts served as an agent of weathering. Saltwater In the process of haloclasty, salts served as an agent of weathering. Saltwater
sometimes gets into the cracks and pores of rock. When it evaporates, salt sometimes gets into the cracks and pores of rock. When it evaporates, salt
crystals are left behind and grow in the cracks and pores which caused pressure crystals are left behind and grow in the cracks and pores which caused pressure
on the rock and slowly break it apart. on the rock and slowly break it apart.

Temperature Temperature
Temperature changes can also contribute to weathering through the Temperature changes can also contribute to weathering through the
process called thermal stress. process called thermal stress.

Plants Plants

Plants also served as agents of weathering. Its contribution take place Plants also served as agents of weathering. Its contribution take place
when the seed of a tree being spread in the environment sprout in soil that has when the seed of a tree being spread in the environment sprout in soil that has
collected in a cracked rock. collected in a cracked rock.

Animals Animals
Animals that tunnel underground, such as moles and prairie dogs, also work to Animals that tunnel underground, such as moles and prairie dogs, also work to
break apart rock and soil. Other animals dig and trample rock aboveground, break apart rock and soil. Other animals dig and trample rock aboveground,
causing rock to slowly crumble. causing rock to slowly crumble.

Types of Weathering Types of Weathering

A. Physical Weathering A. Physical Weathering
Physical weathering is caused by the effects of changing Physical weathering is caused by the effects of changing
temperatures on rocks, causing the rock to break apart. The process is temperatures on rocks, causing the rock to break apart. The process is
sometimes assisted by water. Abrasion. It occurs when rocks surface is sometimes assisted by water. Abrasion. It occurs when rocks surface is
frequently exposed to water, wind and gravity. frequently exposed to water, wind and gravity.

Freeze-thaw. It occurs when water continually seeps into cracks, freezes and Freeze-thaw. It occurs when water continually seeps into cracks, freezes and
expands, eventually breaking the rock apart. It occurs in mountainous regions. expands, eventually breaking the rock apart. It occurs in mountainous regions.

1. Exfoliation. It can happen as cracks develop 2. Exfoliation. It can happen as cracks develop
parallel to the land surface as a consequence of the reduction in parallel to the land surface as a consequence of the reduction in
pressure during uplift and erosion. It occurs typically in upland pressure during uplift and erosion. It occurs typically in upland
areas where there are exposures of uniform coarsely crystalline areas where there are exposures of uniform coarsely crystalline
igneous rocks. The following are the process of exfoliation. igneous rocks. The following are the process of exfoliation.

B. Chemical Weathering B. Chemical Weathering

Chemical weathering is caused by rainwater reacting with the mineral grains in Chemical weathering is caused by rainwater reacting with the mineral grains in
rocks to form new minerals (clays) and soluble salts. These reactions occur rocks to form new minerals (clays) and soluble salts. These reactions occur
particularly when the water is slightly acidic. particularly when the water is slightly acidic.
There are different types of chemical weathering, the most important are: There are different types of chemical weathering, the most important are:

1. Carbonation – carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in rainwater and 5. Carbonation – carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in rainwater and
becomes weakly acidic. becomes weakly acidic.

2. Hydrolysis – the breakdown of rock by acidic water to produce clay and 6. Hydrolysis – the breakdown of rock by acidic water to produce clay and
soluble salts. soluble salts.

3. Hydration – a type of chemical weathering where water reacts chemically 7. Hydration – a type of chemical weathering where water reacts chemically
with the rocks, modifying its chemical structure. with the rocks, modifying its chemical structure.

4. Oxidation – the breakdown of rock by oxygen and water, often giving iron- 8. Oxidation – the breakdown of rock by oxygen and water, often giving iron-
rich rocks a rusty-colored weathered surface. rich rocks a rusty-colored weathered surface.

c. BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING c. BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING

Biological weathering of rocks occurs whenrocks are weakened by different Biological weathering of rocks occurs whenrocks are weakened by different
biological agents like plants and animals. When plant roots grow biological agents like plants and animals. When plant roots grow
through rocks, it creates fracture and cracks that result eventually to rock through rocks, it creates fracture and cracks that result eventually to rock
breakage. It can be classified into: breakage. It can be classified into:

1. Biological Weathering by Physical Means. Burrowing animals like 1. Biological Weathering by Physical Means. Burrowing animals like
shrews, moles and earthworms create holes on the ground by excavation and shrews, moles and earthworms create holes on the ground by excavation and
move the rock fragments to the surface. move the rock fragments to the surface.

2.Biological Weathering by Chemical Compounds. Some plants and 2.Biological Weathering by Chemical Compounds. Some plants and
animals also produced acidic substances that react with the rock and cause its animals also produced acidic substances that react with the rock and cause its
slow disintegration slow disintegration.