HOT: Weathering

Question 1

What weathering processes take place in hot environments?

Answer 1

PHYSICAL WEATHERING...
Chemical weathering:
- Hydration
- Temperature change
Mechanical weathering:
- Granular disintegration
- Block disintegration
- Shattering
- Exfoliation

Question 2

What is hydration? (Chemical)

Answer 2

ABSORPTION of water by minerals, which INCREASE IN VOLUME and cause STRESS in rocks - fairly widespread and leads to the FLAKING of rocks (exfoliation).

Question 3

What is temperature change? (Chemical)

Answer 3

Intense heating/cooling causing expansion/contraction.

Question 4

What is granular disintegration? (Mechanical)

Answer 4

Grain/coarse rocks e.g. granite, break down into GRAINS of sand. GRANITE disintegrates quickly as it contains both BLACK and WHITE crystals which heat up/cool down at different rates due to their colours.

Question 5

What is block disintegration? (Mechanical)

Answer 5

Well jointed SEDIMENTARY rocks, break down along their JOINTS as they are their main lines of weakness.

Question 6

What is shattering? (Mechanical)

Answer 6

Rocks that neither have coarse grains or a blocky structure may SHATTER into IRREGULAR FRAGMENTS with sharp edges.

Question 7

What is exfoliation? (Mechanical)

Answer 7

Massive rocks tend to PEEL off in LAYERS. Granite and sandstone disintegrate in this way.