EXOGENIC PROCESSES

Weathering, Mass Wasting, Erosion and Deposition

Concept Map

Weathering

Degradation Mass Wasting

Exogenic Process
Earth’s
Erosion
Landforms

Aggradation Deposition
What are exogenic processes?

 Are external processes that occur at or near the surface of the Earth.

 Responsible for transforming rocks into sediments

 Includes degradation (weathering, mass wasting, erosion) and

aggradation (deposition)
Weathering

 Weathering is the process of mechanical disintegration and chemi­cal

decomposition of the rocks at the earth's surface, under the
influence of factors

 Two types: Mechanical Weathering and Chemical Weathering

Mechanical Weathering

 Mechanical weathering is the disintegration of rock into smaller and

smaller fragments without changing the rocks composition.

 Includes:
 Frost wedging
 Thermal stress weathering
 Unloading
 Biological activity
Mechanical Weathering:
Frost Wedging

 Water enters through the

cracks and empty spaces or
rocks expands when it freezes.
Mechanical Weathering:
Thermal Stress Weathering
 Results from the expansion
and contraction of rocks
caused by temperature change

 Peeling off rocks layers a.ka.

“Exfoliation”
Mechanical Weathering:
Unloading
 Overlying rock is eroded away
which causes the outer rock to
expand more than the rock
below and separates from the
entire rock body.
Mechanical Weathering:
Biological Activity
Chemical Weathering

 Chemical weathering, also known as decomposition or decay, is the

breakdown of rock by chemical mechanisms.
 It does not break rocks into smaller fragments through wind, water and
ice (that's mechanical weathering).
 Instead, it changes the chemical composition of the rock, usually
through:
 carbonation,
 hydrolysis or
 oxidation
Chemical Weathering:
Carbonation
 Carbonation occurs when rain, which is naturally slightly acidic due
to carbon dioxide, combines with a calcium carbonate such as
limestone or chalk, and forms calcium bicarbonate.

 Carbonation, sometimes referred to as dissolution, is the driving

force behind the sinkholes, caverns and underground rivers.
Chemical Weathering:
Hydrolysis
 Hydrolysis occur when water breaks down the chemical bonds of a
mineral instead of creating a new mineral. It is a decomposition
reaction.

 The name makes this one particularly easy to remember: The prefix
"hydro-" means water, while the suffix “-lysis" means
decomposition, breakdown or separation.
Chemical Weathering:
Oxidation
 Oxidation refers to the reaction of oxygen with metal elements in a
rock, forming oxides. An easily recognizable example of this
is rust.

 Iron reacts easily with oxygen, turning into reddish-brown iron

oxides. This reaction is responsible for the red surface of Mars.
MASS WASTING

 Movement of rocks or soil in mass numbers.

 The step that follows weathering. Its driving force is gravity.
 There are other factors that triggers the downslope movement of
materials
 Water
 Angle of slope
 Removal of anchors
 Ground vibrations from earthquakes
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF
WEATHERING AND EROSION?
EROSION

 Erosion is the process of

transporting weathered
sediments.
Deposition

 Deposition is the aggradation or

accumulates of weathered rocks and
sediments to create a different
landforms like:
 Water landforms
 Wind landforms
Water Landforms:
Deltas and Alluvium fans
Water Landforms:
Flood Plains and Leevees
Wind Landforms:
Sand Dunes
Paoay Sand Dunes in Ilocos Norte =D