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

Weathering is the general term applied to the combi
means is essential for rock cycle, soil formation, and movement of materials on
the earth’s surface. This process, known as weathering, reduces the size of rocks
and prepares materials for transport. Weathering begins as soon as rocks are
exposed to one or more elements of weather on the surface of earth.
Generally, the disintegration and decomposition processes act together, but one
may be dominant, depending on the climate. In addition, the weathered
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.

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 Rock Exfoliation: Block Disintegration: Frost Weathering:

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 involves water
changes its mineral composition. The greatest impact of this
process is observed on ferrous minerals, which contain iron. The
oxygen in
humid air reacts with iron in the rocks to form oxides of iron called rust.
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.

Carbonic acid is categorized as a weak acid but may3.seep into the cracks
Hydration is the of rocksofand
result themay react withor
absorption thecombination
minerals within
of the rocks.
water
and a particular substance on the rock, leading to a change in shape.
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 rock is deformed
The rate of weathering differs from one rock to another.
Softer rocks are weathered easily, leaving behind harder rocks roce
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.
Plants contribute to both mechanical and chemical
weathering. The roots of the plants penetrate into the joints of
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
into fragments. rock
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

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 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

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 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
1. Windsurface.
erosion happens when winds carry
Flow – happens when rock materials are saturated with water and move downslope as viscous fluid.
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
Different soil types are identified based on certain factors such as the type of parent rock, climate, period of accumulation, elevation, amount o
Soil, which is a part of the geosphere, interfaces the
atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.

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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

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