Key Terms Flashcards
1
Q
Weathering
A
- decomposition + disintegration of rocks in situ
2
Q
Decomposition
A
- chemical weathering creating altered rocks from weathered material
3
Q
Disintegration
A
- mechanical weathering breaking up rocks into smaller fragments, although rocks retain same chemical structure
4
Q
Granite
A
- hard, resistant, igneous rock consisting of feldspar, which can be changed into kaolin by hydrolysis
5
Q
Scree
A
- angular sediment collecting at foot of Mt. range or cliff
6
Q
Biological weathering
A
- weathering caused by activities of living organisms
7
Q
Interrelated
A
- when several factors interact to have an impact on same feature
8
Q
Clastic (rocks + sediments)
A
- composed of fragments of pre-existing minerals + rock
9
Q
Plastic
A
- permanent change in shape of a rock, w/o splitting or cracking, when pressure is put on it to form scree slopes
10
Q
Salt crystal growth
A
- breakdown of rock by expansion + contraction of salt crystals from fluctuating T°C above + below 26°C
11
Q
Exfoliation
A
- expansion of rocks in deserts due to repeated heating + cooling between night + day
12
Q
Unloading
A
- dec. pressure on rocks by removal of overlying rocks
13
Q
Pseudo-bedding planes
A
- horizontal cracks in rocks, formed by pressure release, resembling bedding planes found in sedimentary rocks
14
Q
Vegetation roots
A
- may weather rocks by physical growth + secretion of organic acids
15
Q
Carbonation-solution
A
rocks containing calcium carbonate (CaCO3), e.g. chalk + limestone
