BASIC EDUCATION DIVISION

Senior High South School

4.0 EXOGENIC AND ENDOGENIC PROCESSES

Prepared by: Yvette M. Villarta, Ed.D.

In this module, you will spend 2 hours to:

a. describe how rocks undergo weathering;
b. explain how the products of weathering are carried away by erosion and deposited elsewhere; and
c. describe how rocks and soil move downslope due to the direct action of gravity.

Introduction:
Exogenic processes refer to activities or phenomena that occur on the earth’s surface. Rocks are naturally exposed
to different forces that affect their physical characteristics. Wind, water, ground, organisms, and other factors influence
the processes that shape the surface of the earth.

Earth undergoes change through weathering and erosion.

How do weathering and erosion change Earth’s surface?

The breaking or crumbling of rocks by physical, chemical, or biological

means is essential for rock cycle, soil formation, and movement of materials on Weathering is the general term
the earth’s surface. This process, known as weathering, reduces the size of rocks applied to the combined action of all
and prepares materials for transport. Weathering begins as soon as rocks are physical and chemical processes that
exposed to one or more elements of weather on the surface of earth. disintegrate and decompose rocks
Generally, the disintegration and decomposition processes act together, but one near earth’s surface through the
may be dominant, depending on the climate. In addition, the weathered elements of weather.
material lies on top of the unweather layer of rock.
Weathering may occur mechanically (physically) or chemically.
Physical weathering happens whenever rocks are broken up without any change in their chemical composition. This type
of weathering takes place in different ways depending on the factor that acts on the rock. These factors include pressure,
warm temperature, water, and ice. This includes block disintegration, exfoliation, and frost action.
1. Block disintegration is caused by successive heating and cooling which causes the expansion and contraction
of rocks. In hot desert regions, the high diurnal range of temperature of day and night causes successive
expansion and contraction of the rocks. This repeated expansion and contraction creates stress along the
joints, eventually breaking down the rock, block by block.
2. Exfoliation is the stripping of the outer layers of rocks due to intense heating. Since rocks are poor conductors
of heat, the inner layers remain almost unaffected by heat. The successive expansion and contraction of the
outer layers of the rock peels off from the main rock in the form of concentric shells.

SCIENCE 02 Module 4 1
 Rock Exfoliation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-taMPWMTI4

Block Disintegration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb6HhXG2o34

Frost Weathering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYoSpcilDA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfQwD8fzKtw

3. Frost weathering refers to the alternate freezing and thawing of water inside the joints of the rocks, causing
them to split into small particles or fragments. This occurs because the conversion of water into ice increases
the volume of water by 10%. This is the most important physical weathering process in cold regions.

Chemical weathering is the weakening or disintegration of rocks and the formation of new compounds or new
substances caused by chemical reactions. Chemical process includes oxidation, hydrolysis, and acid action.

1. Oxidation is the process in which oxygen reacts with the rock and Chemical weathering usually
changes its mineral composition. The greatest impact of this process involves water and how it
is observed on ferrous minerals, which contain iron. The oxygen in reacts with other substances in
humid air reacts with iron in the rocks to form oxides of iron called rust. the rocks.
Rust can breakdown rocks completely, given enough amount of time.
2. Carbonation is the process involving the formation of various types of
carbonates in rocks. Some of these carbonates are soluble in water. Just like when rainwater containing
carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid, it passes through permeable limestone rocks. This process results in the
enlargement of rocks and removal of lime, which holds the particles together.

3. Hydration is the result of the absorption or combination of water

Carbonic acid is categorized as a weak acid but
and a particular substance on the rock, leading to a change in shape.
may seep into the cracks of rocks and may
react with the minerals within the rocks.
The addition of water in the rock increase its volume, which changes
the shape of the grains. Feldspar is changed into kaolin through the
hydration.
As water continues to remove substances in rocks, the
The rate of weathering differs from one rock to another. rock is deformed, broken into pieces, and disintegrated.
Softer rocks are weathered easily, leaving behind harder rocks Rock salt and gypsum are removed through this process.
that take more exposure time to breakdown. Differential
weathering or the difference in degree of rock disintegration and
discoloration, contributes to landscape shaping.

Videos for chemical weathering: Biotic Weathering (biological) is the disintegration of

rocks caused by living organisms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCZZIoPio60
Plants contribute to both mechanical and chemical
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8oWj3PVK9E weathering. The roots of the plants penetrate into the joints of
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VnVRHIV6j4 the rocks searching for moisture. As the roots grow larger and
thicker, they exert pressure on the rocks. The pressure acts as a
wedge, widening and extending the cracks, and breaking the rock
into fragments.
Animals like earthworm, rats, rabbits, termites and ants’ breakdown the rocks through burrowing. These
disintegrated rocks can easily be exposed to more intense processes, or be eroded or removed by other agents. The action

SCIENCE 02 Module 4 2
 of microbes on rocks changes the chemical composition of rocks. This
makes the rocks more susceptible to weathering.
Humans play a very important role in the weathering of rocks.
Provisions for agriculture, construction of houses, and construction of
roads, among others, require large amounts of rocks to be broken
down. Mining minerals also require breaking, weakening, and loosening
of rocks. The increased amount of weathering agents in soil, water, and
wind.

Mass wasting refers to the downslope movement of rock, regolith, and soil because of gravity. It is a
natural process, which follows weathering. It is considered a natural a natural hazard. Mass wasting are classified
based on their moisture or water content and speed, or rate of movement. The saturation of water destroys the
cohesion of rock particles, causing them to become loose. Water also adds weight to a mass, causing their
downslope slide or flow. The speed of the downward movement of rocks results when air becomes trapped and
compressed beneath the falling mass. This allows the mass to move as a buoyant, flexible sheet across the
surface.

https://slideplayer.com/sli
de/6908582/

Classifications of mass wasting

based on saturation and speed
of flow

SCIENCE 02 Module 4 3
 Soil erosion is the removal of soil at a greater rate
Based on the type of motion, mass wasting could be generally
classified as: than its replacement by natural agencies.

Fall – the free-fall movement of detached individual pieces of
rock.
Slides – occur when rock materials remain fairly coherent and
move along a well-defined surface.
Flow – happens when rock materials are saturated with water
and move downslope as viscous fluid.
1. Wind erosion happens when winds carry vast
quantity of fine soil particles and sand away
from a region, spreading it over adjoining
cultivated land and destroying their fertility.
It takes place in and around all desert regions
of the world.
2. Sheet erosion is the removal of thin layers of
soil because of surface runoff and rain. This
type of erosion is common along the

Riverbeds and areas affected by floods. If left unattended, the soil could be completely exhausted or devoid of nutrients
due to removal of topsoil, rendering it completely unusable for agriculture.

3. Rill erosion is the removal of

soil by the action of
concentrated running water.
This process creates
numerous centimeter-deep
tiny channels called rills,
which carry water during
storms.
Wind erosion Sheet erosion

4. Gully erosion is the removal of soil in water channels or drainage lines. The gullies gradually multiply and spread over
a wide area. The land being dissected is called badlands or ravines.

Gully erosion

The mass of soil increases as weathering continues.

The mixture of different products of weathering and
non-decaying organic matter, known as humus, Soil, which is a part of the geosphere, interfaces the
makes up the soil. atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.
Different soil types are identified based on certain
factors such as the type of parent rock, climate,
period of accumulation, elevation, amount of
rainfall, and other environmental variables.

SCIENCE 02 Module 4 4
References: Oliver, J. T. II, & Ramos, A. C. M. (2016). Exploring Life through Science: Earth and Life Science. Phoenix Publishing
House, Inc., Quezon City.

Papa, R.D. S., Briones, J.C. A., Papa, D.M. D, & Tordesillas, D. T..(2016)Earth and Life Science: Knowing and understanding
nature. Abiva Publishing House, Inc., Quezon City.

Self-Assessment

Formative Assessment #1: Identification. Identify the term/s being described.

________________________ 1. It is a destruction caused by exposure to the wind, rain or sun.

________________________ 2. The process that breaks down rock at the Erath’s surface through disintegration of rocks
into mineral particles or dissolving it into water.

________________________ 3. The major force of erosion along the coast.

________________________ 4. It occurs as rock surfaces heated by the Sun during the day expand slightly, and then
contract with nighttime cooling.

________________________ 5. When rainwater attacks formation of limestone, the minerals dissolve and wash away
with the mildly acid and rainwater.

________________________ 6. A downslope movement of soil and weathered rock resulting from the force of gravity.

________________________ 7. It is a slow, steady, downhill flow of loose, weathered Earth materials especially soil.

Formative Assessment #2. Crossword Puzzle

SCIENCE 02 Module 4 5
SCIENCE 02 Module 4 6
SCIENCE 02 Module 4 7