WEATHERING - Water containing salt accumulates in the

spaces of rocks
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
HYDRATION
- Also known as physical weathering
- Disintegration of large rock into smaller - Attachment of water molecules to the
pieces structures of minerals and rocks without
- Important in landscape modifications altering their composition
 Easy transportation of rocks
CHEMICAL WEATHERING
 Encourages more weathering –
increase rock surface area - Refers to the chemical changes that occur in
rocks
TYPES
OXIDATION
o UNLOADING
- Process which oxygen react with mineral to
Tectonic forces lift deep buried rocks
close to the surface form oxides
- Commonly reacts with aluminum and iron
Erosion removes the overlying rock
and the pressure
SOLUTION AND CARBONATION
Rock uplift and fracture - Mineral or rock dissolves in water forming a
solution like halite dissolved in water

Exfoliation – successive removal of - Carbonation – CO2 and H2O reacts with a
the outer rock sheets rock material
 Exfoliation Dome – unloaded - Effective on limestone
exfoliating outcrop of rock with a HYRDOLYSIS
dome-like surface.
o THERMAL EXPANSION AND - Mineral reacting with water to form a new
CONTRACTION mineral that has H2O as part of its crystal
- Occurs when the temperature changes structure
rapidly causing the surface of the rock to - Faster in acidic water
heat and cool.
BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING
a. Rock surface heats up and expands
b. Rock surface cools and contracts - Different plants and fungi secretes organic
c. Joints form in the outer part of the acids that dissolve minerals
rock
d. Original rock surface
FREEZE – THAW
- Process in which water freezes in a crack of
rock and then the expansion edges the rock
apart.
- Expands the volume up to 9%
SALT CRYSTAL GROWTH
- Development of salt crystals and other void
spaces in rocks causes physical
interpretation