Weathering of Rocks and Minerals

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What is physical weathering also known as?

mechanical weathering or disaggregation

Explain how frost wedging contributes to physical weathering.

Water expands when it freezes, leading to rock breaking apart through repeated cycles of freeze-thaw.

Describe the process of thermal expansion and contraction in physical weathering.

Heating causes rock to expand, while cooling results in contraction; different minerals expand and contract at different rates.

What is crystal growth in the context of physical weathering?

Crystal growth happens when salty water gets into rock, and later evaporation of water produces crystallization in the fracture space. Signup and view all the answers

Define weathering in geological terms.

Mechanical breakup and chemical decomposition of rocks/minerals at or near the earth’s surface. Signup and view all the answers

What is erosion in the context of weathering?

The picking up/removal of debris resulting from weathering processes. Signup and view all the answers

How does biological weathering contribute to the process of weathering rocks?

Reduces rock material to smaller fragments that are easier to transport and increases the exposed surface area of rock. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of chemical reactions involved in chemical weathering?

Oxidation, hydrolysis, carbonation, and other processes. Signup and view all the answers

Define minerals and their role in rocks.

Minerals are inorganic, naturally occurring solids with specific chemical compositions and atomic structures; they are the building blocks of rocks. Signup and view all the answers

How does physical weathering affect the rock's vulnerability to further weathering processes?

It reduces rock material to smaller fragments that are easier to transport and increases the exposed surface area of the rock. Signup and view all the answers

What determines the stability of primary minerals in rocks?

The temperature and pressure at which they form. Signup and view all the answers

How does chemical weathering alter the mineral composition of rocks?

Chemical weathering processes either form or destroy minerals, leading to changes in the rock's mineral composition. Signup and view all the answers

How do the roots of plants contribute to biological weathering?

The roots grow into cracks in rocks, exerting pressure as they expand, causing the rock to crack further. Signup and view all the answers

What is the unique form of weathering that occurs when the force of winds and salty waters combine on rocks in coastal environments?

Honeycomb weathering (cavernous weathering, alveoli/alveolar weathering, stone lattice, stone lace) Signup and view all the answers

How does mechanical exfoliation contribute to physical weathering?

Rock breaks apart in layers parallel to the earth's surface, expanding as it is uncovered due to lower confining pressure. Signup and view all the answers

Which animals contribute to biological weathering by digging holes that expose underlying rocks to weathering effects?

Moles, rabbits, and groundhogs Signup and view all the answers

Explain how rocks cool at depth under pressure and what happens when the overburden is removed.

Rocks essentially de-pressurize when overburden is removed, leading to sheets of rock peeling off subparallel to the earth's surface. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to rocks when the force of winds and salty waters combine on their surface?

They develop a network of holes in various shapes and sizes, known as honeycomb weathering. Signup and view all the answers