Weathering
Weathering is often divided into the processes
of mechanical weathering and chemical
weathering.
Biological weathering, in which living or once-
living organisms contribute to weathering
Mechanical/Physical weathering
• the process by which rocks break
down into smaller pieces by physical
means
• is strictly a physical process and does
not change the composition of the
rock.
Physical weathering
• is caused by the effects of changing
temperatures on rocks, causing the
rock to break apart.
• It happens especially in places
where there is little soil and few
plants grow, such as in mountain
regions and hot deserts.
Physical weathering
• It occurs either through repeated
melting and freezing of water
• expansion and contraction of the
surface layer of rocks that are baked
by the sun (hot deserts)
tundra
deserts
Types of Physical weathering
Abrasion
• the collision of rocks that results in
the breaking and wearing away of
the rocks
• caused by gravity, ice, running
water, and wind.
Exfoliation/ sheeting
• is a process in which large flat or curved
sheets of rock fracture and are detached
from the outcrop due to pressure release
Sheeting/Exfoliation
Ice Wedging
• Ice wedging occurs when water
seeps into cracks in rock and then
freezes.
• Ice wedging commonly occurs at
high elevations and in cold climates.
Ice Wedging
Water flows into a crack in a rock’s
surface. When the water freezes, it
expands and causes the crack to widen.
Ice wedging is responsible for most of
the cracks shown in this photo
Chemical Weathering
• The process by which rock is broken
down because of chemical interactions
with the environment
• Chemical weathering, or decomposition,
occurs when chemical reactions act on
the minerals in rock.
Chemical Weathering
• Chemical reactions commonly occur
between rock, water, carbon dioxide,
oxygen, and acids.
• Chemical reactions with either acids or
bases can change the structure of
minerals, which leads to the formation
of new minerals.
Types of Chemical Weathering
Oxidation
• The process by which elements combine
with oxygen is called oxidation.
• Oxidation commonly occurs in rock that
has iron bearing minerals, such as
hematite and magnetite.
• In this rock, iron, Fe, combines quickly
with oxygen, O2, that is dissolved in
water to form rust, or iron oxide
Hydrolysis
• a chemical reaction between water
and another substance to form two or
more new substances
• The change in the composition of
minerals when they react chemically
with water
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis
• Example, a type of feldspar combines with water
and produces a common clay called kaolin.
• In this reaction, hydronium ions displace the
potassium and calcium atoms in the feldspar
crystals, which changes the feldspar into clay.
• Minerals that are affected by hydrolysis often
dissolve in water.
Hydrolysis
• Water can then carry the dissolved
minerals to lower layers of rock in a
process called leaching.
• Ore deposits, such as bauxite, the
aluminum ore, are form
Carbonation
• the conversion of a compound into a
carbonate
• When carbon dioxide, CO2, from the air
dissolves in water, H2O, a weak acid
called carbonic acid, H2CO3, forms:
• Carbonic acid seeps through the ground and
dissolves certain minerals
• Another example of carbonation occurs
when carbonic acid reacts with calcite, a
major component of limestone, and converts
the calcite into calcium bicarbonate.
• Calcium bicarbonate dissolves easily in
water, so the limestone eventually weathers
away
Organic Acids
• Acids are produced naturally by
certain living organisms.
• Lichens and mosses grow on rocks and
produce weak acids that can weather
the surface of the rock.
biological breakdown
Acid Precipitation
• Acid precipitation is any form of
precipitation (rain, snow, hail or fog)
whose acidity has been increased
through the intake of acid pollutants
from the air.
Acid Precipitation
• nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides are
released into the air due to burning of
coal
• These compounds combine with water
in the atmosphere to produce nitric
acid, nitrous acid, or sulfuric acid.
Biological weathering
• occurs when rocks are weakened by
different biological agents like plants
and animals.
• When plant roots grow through rocks, it
creates fracture and cracks that result
eventually to rock breakage.
Biological Weathering by Physical Means
Burrowing animals
Root wedging
Biological breakdown