MODULE 1

WEATHERING
 What is Weathering?
It is the breakdown or disintegration of rocks and their minerals into
smaller fragments and/or decay and transformation into other
substances. This can happen via bot living and nonliving factors, such as
temperature changes, plants and animals, acids salts and water, whether
solid or liquid. Weathering of rocks takes place over a period of time.
Rocks on earth's surface tend to weather faster than those underground.
Weathering is one of the processes that lead to soil production
 3 TYPES OF WEATHERING
Physical / Mechanical Chemical Biological
3

• Frost Wedging
Dissolution Plant
•Unloading(Release of Pressure Oxidation Human
• Thermal Expansion Hydrolosis Animal
• Abrasion Carbonation Microbial
•Salth Weathering
Influences
Physical Weathering
Physical or mechanical
weathering is skin to physical
change that breaks down to
rocks down into bits due to
physical force. As a result,
rocks change in both shape
and size, but the rocks do not
change in chemical
composition.
FROST WEDGING
Generally,, rocks have fracture in this
surface and when water accumulates
in the crack and at that point freeze,
the ice expands and breaks the rock
apart. It is caused by repeated cycles of
freezing and thawing. Frost Wedging is
the most prevalent in mountainous
regions where there is a daily freeze
thaw cycle. It is Frost Wedging that
causes potholes in roads during the
winter
UNLOADING (RELEASE
OF PRESSURE)
It is a geologic process where overlying
rocks at the surface are removed. After
the granite ascends and cools, the
overlying rocks and sediments may erode.
At the point when the pressure diminishes,
the rock expands, cools and became brittle
and fractured. The sheets of rocks that are
the the result of unloading are referred to
as "exfoliation sheets"
THERMAL EXPANSION
Rocks expand and are fractured when
exposed to high temperature. However,
if the temperature drops to 0°C (
freezing point of water), it also expands
and causes fracture. As a weathering
process occurs where daily thermal
expansion and contraction of individual
minerals can exert destructive forces on
the cohesion of a rock. This mechanism
is probably the least effective of all the
weathering processes
 ABRASION
The breakdown of rocks is caused by
impact and friction. This primarily
occurs during collision of rocks sand
and silt due to the current or waves
along a stream or seashore causing
sharp edges and corners to wear off
and become rounded.
 SALT WEATHERING
Salts in rocks expand due to thermal
action, hydration and crystallization.
Many salts like calcium, sodium,
magnesium, potassium and barium
have a tendency to expand. It is favored
in areas of alternative wetting and
drying conditions.
 Chemical
weathering
 CHEMICAL
WEATHERING
This is akin to chemical change
wherein new materials with new
properties developed from the rock
and its minerals when acted upon by
agents of chemical weathering. The
agents are usually water and
atmosphere gases such as oxygen
and carbon dioxide. Water is the most
important agent in the four different
processes of chemical weathering
 DISSOLUTION
Is a process where a solid
dissolve into solvent such as
water forming a solution. It
occurs in a specific minerals
which are dissolved in water.
Examples of these minerals are
halite (NaCl) and calcite (CaCo).
The formation of stalactics and
stalagmites in caves are brought
about by chemical reaction
CARBONATION
Occurs when carbon dioxide
dissolves in water forming carbonic
acid that can cause rocks to
dissolve.
 HYDROLYSIS
Hydrolysis occurs when water
becomes integrated into the
minerals causing the mineral
crystals to change in structure,
soften and easily crumble. As an
example, field sparse chemically
alter (hydrolysis) to form clay
minerals such as kaolinite. Rock
forming minerals like amphibole,
pyroxine, fields for react with
water and form different kinds of
clay minerals.
 OXIDATION
Oxidation takes place when
components of the minerals
combined with free oxygen in the
atmosphere causing the form of
oxides. It is the response of oxygen
with minerals. If the iron oxidizes,
Mineral in rocks decomposes.
Oxidation of iron is responsible for
many rocks having a rusty red color
rusting is an example of this
chemical reaction
Biological
weathering
 BIOLOGICAL
WEATHERING
Biological weathering is a type of weathering that results
from plant, animal and even microbial influences. For
example, tree seeds will over time break apart rocks as
they grow into mature trees. The roots of trees will
continually spread and make cracks in rocks. Animals like
rats, rabbits and squirrels excavate into the ground to
create space for habitation. Even animals above ground
can break down rocks as they travel over land. Both living
and decaying plants and fungi affect rocks by producing
carbonic acid. Fungi and lichen work to break down rocks
to release minerals, symbiotic algae partake of those
minerals. Process leads to holes in the rocks. Overtime all
the activity from biological organisms leds to increase
weathering of rocks.
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