WEATHERING

- The disintegration or decomposition of rocks in situ (on site)

Weathering involves TWO types of processes:

-Physical/Mechanical Weathering - this is the ‘disintegration’ or break up of

rocks in situ (on site).

-Chemical Weathering- this is the ‘decomposition’ or breakdown or

weakening of rocks due to chemical changes.

PHYSICAL WEATHERING PROCESSES

(a) Frost Shattering/Frost Action/Freeze-Thaw Action

- occurs in colder regions where temperatures fluctuate
around 0°C. Rocks are also pervious (have cracks and
joints).
- during the daytime when temperatures are higher,
water enters the cracks and joints
- during the night temperatures decrease allowing the
water to freeze within the cracks and joints
- ice occupies 9-10% more volume than water thus
exerting pressure on the rock from within the crack or
joint and widening the joint
- repeated thawing and freezing allows more water to
enter and freeze thereby widening cracks and joints
until large blocks of rock are detached
- these ‘blocks’ of rock may accumulate at the base of
slopes to form ‘scree’ or ‘talus’ slopes.

 The process whereby rocks are broken up into large

blocks is referred to as ‘Block Disintegration’
(b) Insolation Weathering (thermal expansion and contraction)
- occurs mostly in areas where the diurnal (daily) range
of temperature is large. In desert areas the diurnal
range may exceed 40°C (the difference between the
highest and the lowest temperatures recorded for the
day)
- In the day rocks expand due to heat
- In the night rocks contract due to cold
- Repeated expansion and contraction (daily) over time
set up stresses within the rock causing cracks to
develop parallel to the surface
- this leads to the outer ‘layer’ falling off like ‘peeling’
of the outer layer of an onion

- may lead to the formation of ‘exfoliation domes’

 The process whereby rocks peel off in layers is referred

to as ‘Exfoliation’
- it should be noted that if the rocks are made up of
several minerals then granular disintegration can
occur.
(c) Biological - Roots of trees may grow along bedding planes, cracks and
joints
- As the roots grow they put pressure on the rock from within
the spaces causing blocks to be detached (block disintegration).
 CHEMICAL WEATHERING PROCESSES

(1) Carbonation – Carbon Dioxide dissolved in rainwater forms a weak acid

called Carbonic Acid. Carbonic acid reacts with with Calcium
Carbonate in rocks (such as limestone and chalk) - the rock is
dissolved and washed away in solution (as Calcium
Bicarbonate).

H2 O + C O2 = H2 C O3
(rain) Water Carbon Dioxide Mild Carbonic Acid

H2 C O3 + Ca C O3 = Ca (H C O3)2
Carbonic Acid Calcium Carbonate Calcium Bicarbonate
(in rainwater) (in Limestone)
(2) Hydrolysis – hydrogen in water reacts with minerals in the rock. An example
of hydrolysis is the breakdown of feldspar (a mineral found in
igneous rocks such as granite) into a clay known as kaolinite
(China Clay).

(3) Biological – Humic acid formed from the decaying of plants and animals
assists in breaking down rocks.
The action of bacteria can increase Carbon Dioxide
levels in the soil thereby increasing Carbonation.
Role of water in weathering processes :

Physical weathering processes:

Frost Shattering - Water is needed to enter cracks and freeze to
form ice.

Biological - Water facilitates the growth of large trees

Chemical weathering processes:

It should be noted that water is required for any chemical reaction

to take place. However, water has specific roles in various processes:

Carbonation - Carbonic acid is formed in water

Hydrolysis - water is a source of Hydrogen for rocks

Biological - needed for decomposition – supports microbial

life (as bacteria and fungi)

Role of temperature in weathering processes:

Physical Weathering processes:

Frost Shattering - temperatures fluctuate around 0oC –

high enough for water to enter rocks and low
enough for freezing to take place

Insolation Weathering - extreme changes in temperature cause

expansion and contraction

Chemical Weathering processes:

Chemical reactions generally take place best at approximately
o
37-40 C.
 Rock type and Weathering processes

Weathering processes are greatly influenced by rock type:

Physical Weathering processes:

(1) Frost shattering – occurs in rocks with cracks and joints which can
hold water (within the cracks and joints) such as
‘Basalt’
(2) Insolation Weathering - darker coloured rocks absorb heat faster than
lighter coloured rocks. ‘Basalt’ is also a dark
coloured rocks.
(3) Biological - occurs in rocks with cracks, joints and bedding
planes – often in sedimentary rocks as ‘limestone’

Chemical Weathering processes:

(1) Hydrolysis - feldspar in ‘Granite’ can be broken down into a clay
(2) Carbonation - dissolves rocks composed of Calcium Carbonate as
‘Limestone’