WEATHERING

WEATHERING
 includes degradation or breaking down of rocks into smaller segments known as sediments
 occurs when mechanical force is applied on rocks or through chemical reactions happening on
the surface or within the rocks
 the process of breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface, by the action of water, ice, acids, salts,
plants, animals, gravity and changing temperatures. There are three types of weathering:
physical weathering, chemical weathering, and biological weathering
AGENTS OF WEATHERING
1.Water
-Either in liquid or solid form is one of the agents of mechanical weathering. In liquid form, it seeped
into cracks and crevices of rocks and when the temperature dropped, it freezes and definitely will
expand in the form of ice. The ice then works as a wedge which slowly widens the cracks and splits the
rock. When the ice melts, the liquid water performs the act of erosion by carrying away the tiny rock
fragments lost in the split.
2.Salt
-In the process of haloclasty, salts served as an agent of weathering. Saltwater sometimes gets into the
cracks and pores of rock. When it evaporates, salt crystals are left behind and grow in the cracks and
pores which caused pressure on the rock and slowly break it apart.
3. Temperature
-Temperature changes can also contribute to weathering through the process called thermal stress.
During thermal stress, rock tend to expand with heat and contract with low temperature. As this
happens repeatedly, the structure of the rock weakens and over time crumbles.
4. Plants
-Plants also served as agents of weathering. Its contribution take place when the seed of a tree being
spread in the environment sprout in soil that has collected in a cracked rock. As the roots grow, they
widen the cracks, eventually breaking the rock into pieces. Over time, trees can break apart even large
rocks. Even small plants, such as mosses, can enlarge tiny cracks as they grow.
5. Animals
-Animals that tunnel underground, such as moles and prairie dogs, also work to break apart rock and
soil. Other animals dig and trample rock aboveground, causing rock to slowly crumble.
TYPES OF WEATHERING:
PHYSICAL WEATHERING (mechanical weathering)

- caused by the effects of changing temperatures on rocks, causing the rock to break apart
- sometimes assisted by water
- It occurs either through repeated melting and freezing of water (mountains and tundra) or
through expansion and contraction of the surface layer of rocks that are baked by the sun (hot
deserts)
TWO (2) MAIN TYPES OF PHYSICAL WEATHERING:
1. Abrasion. It occurs when rocks surface is frequently exposed to water, wind and gravity.
2. Freeze-thaw. It occurs when water continually seeps into cracks, freezes and expands, eventually
breaking the rock apart. It occurs in mountainous regions like the Alps or Snowdonia. It occurs through
the following process:
Rainwater or snow- melt collects in cracks in the rocks→ at night the temperature drops and the water
freezes and expands→ the increases in volume of the ice exerts pressure on the cracks in the rock,
causing them to split further open→ during the day the ice melts and the water seeps deeper into the
cracks → at night, the water freezes again.
3. Exfoliation. It can happen as cracks develop parallel to the land surface as a consequence of the
reduction in pressure during uplift and erosion. It occurs typically in upland areas where there are
exposures of uniform coarsely crystalline igneous rocks. The following are the process of exfoliation.
The rock mass at depth is under high pressure from underlying rocks. It tends to be uniform and lack
fractures. → As progressive erosion occurs, the rock mass is subjected to progressively lower pressure of
overlying rocks which leads to tension in directions at right angles to the land surface → this tension is
relieved by formation of cracks which follow the land surface. They are relatively flat on plateaus but can
be steep on the flanks of mountains which are called exfoliation domes → once the crack is developed;
water enters and causes chemical weathering leading to the formation of new low- density minerals.
This enhances the cracks and encourages slabs of rock to detach from the surface.
CHEMICAL WEATHERING
- caused by rainwater reacting with the mineral grains in rocks to form new minerals (clays) and
soluble salts.
- occur particularly when the water is slightly acidic
- chemical processes need water, and occur more rapidly at higher temperature, warm and damp
climates
- Chemical weathering (especially hydrolysis and oxidation) is the first stage in the production of
soils.
Different types of chemical weathering

1. Carbonation – carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in rainwater and becomes weakly acidic. This weak
“carbonic acid” can dissolve limestone as it seeps into cracks and cavities. Over many years, solution of
the rock can form spectacular cave systems.
2. Hydrolysis – the breakdown of rock by acidic water to produce clay and soluble salts. Hydrolysis takes
place when acid rain reacts with rock-forming minerals such as feldspar to produce clay and salts that
are removed in solution. The only common rock-forming mineral that is not affected is quartz, which is a
chemically resistant mineral. Therefore, quartz and clay are the two of the most common minerals in
sedimentary rocks.
3. Hydration – a type of chemical weathering where water reacts chemically with the rocks, modifying
its chemical structure. Example: H2O (water) is added to CaSO4 (calcium sulfate) to create CaSO4 +
2H2O (calcium sulfate dihydrate). It changes from anhydrite to gypsum.
4. Oxidation – the breakdown of rock by oxygen and water, often giving iron- rich rocks a rusty-colored
weathered surface.
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. It can be classified into:
1. Biological Weathering by Physical Means. Burrowing animals like shrews, moles and earthworms
create holes on the ground by excavation and move the rock fragments to the surface. These fragments
become more exposed to other environmental factors that can further enhance their weathering.
Furthermore, humans also indirectly contribute to biological weathering by different activities that
cause rocks to break.
2. Biological Weathering by Chemical Compounds. Some plants and animals also produced acidic
substances that react with the rock and cause its slow disintegration

WEATHERING

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WEATHERING

PHYSICAL WEATHERING (mechanical weathering)

Different types of chemical weathering

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