Weathering - caused by elements (weather) wearing away the surface of a rock.

Breaking
of rocks into smaller rocks or sediments.

Two Types of weathering

Physical Weathering- breaking down of rocks without a change in composition.

 Frost Action – results from the alternating freezing and thawing of water.
 Abrasion – Rocks and sediment grinding against each other wear away surfaces.
The rocks become smoother as rough and jagged edges break off.
 Exfoliation - term used to describe the peeling away of sheets of rock millimeters
to meters in thickness from a rock's surface.
 Root Wedging - is the process in which roots grow into the cracks in rocks and
force the cracks open as they continue to grow.

Chemical Weathering - breaking down of rocks with a change in composition.

 Oxidation – is when oxygen reacts with the minerals of a rock.
 Carbonation - carbon dioxide gas dissolves in groundwater forming weak
carbonic acid. Large masses of limestone can be dissolved, forming caves,
stalactites, and sink holes.
 Hydration/hydrolysis - is the chemical breakdown of a substance when
combined with water.
 Organic activity - breaks down rock minerals by altering the rock’s chemical
composition.

Deposition
• Deposition is the geological process in which sediments, soil and rocks are added to
a landform or land mass.
• Wind, ice, water, and gravity transport previously weathered surface material,
which, at the loss of enough kinetic energy in the fluid, is deposited, building up
layers of sediment.