PEO 3 - Weathering

Question 1

What is the LeChatlier Principle?

Answer 1

A system at equilibrium, if disturbed, reacts so as to regain equilibrium under the new conditions.

Question 2

What are the major active agents of weathering?

Answer 2

Atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere

Question 3

What is the most important factor in weathering?

Answer 3

Water.

Question 4

Water has _____ capacity.

Answer 4

Solvent

Question 5

Water can take apart any ____ bonded material, some things are easy to take apart (think salt) and some things are more difficult.

Answer 5

Iconically

Question 6

Water has _____ heat.

Answer 6

Latent

Question 7

___ cal/g - Vaporization/condensation

Answer 7

540

Question 7

___ cal/g - Freezing/Melting

Answer 7

80

Question 8

What are the two types of weathering?

Answer 8

Chemical and mechanical

Question 9

What kind of weathering breaks rocks down into smaller pieces with greater surface area/volume?

Answer 9

Mechanical weathering

Question 9

What determine the dominant types of weathering?

Answer 9

Temperature and annual precipitation

Question 10

What is the result of water flow into cracks in rocks and between mineral grains as ice lenses form (they attract water from adjacent areas)?

Answer 10

Freeze/thaw
Form of mechanical weathering

Question 11

What creates exfoliation domes; most common for granite and to a lesser extent marble?

Answer 11

Unloading (sheeting or exfoliation) (these names mean the same thing)
Form of mechanical weathering

Question 12

_____/_____ volume change is a result of what?

Answer 12

Seasonal/Diurnal
Temperature or water content
Mechanical weathering

Question 13

Crystal growth is related to which form of weathering?

Answer 13

Mechanical weathering

Question 14

Biological activity is related to which form of weathering?

Answer 14

Mechanical weathering

Question 15

What three variables is chemical weathering dependent upon?

Answer 15

Temperature, topographic relief, precipitation (humidity)

Question 15

Chemical weathering is mostly caused by interactions with what?

Answer 15

Water (removal of cations in solution)

Question 16

What environment is best for chemical weathering?

Answer 16

A warm, gently sloping environment. Tropical rainforests have a large amount of chemical weathering.

Question 16

What type of weathering results in a loss of oxygen?

Answer 16

Oxidation
Chemical weathering

Question 17

What type of weathering is most important for carbonates and reacts with acidic water?

Answer 17

Dissolution
Chemical weathering

Question 18

Which have the most relative solubility? (Fe, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Si, Na)

Answer 18

Ca, Na, Mg

Question 19

Which has the least soluble relative solubility?
(Fe, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Si, Na)

Answer 19

Al

Question 20

What is the most important chemical weathering process where water is the agent for exchange of the metallic cations, cations are removed from the solution?

Answer 20

Hydrolysis
Chemical weathering

Question 21

Golich’s stability series is the same as what reaction series, but on it’s side?

Answer 21

Bowen’s reaction series.

Question 22

The major products of weathering are…

Answer 22

Individual rock and mineral grains, clay minerals, ions in solution.

Question 23

What are the three main types of sedimentary rocks?

Answer 23

Terrigenous (clastic or detrital rocks), chemical rocks, biogenic rocks

Question 24

What are the dominant types of sedimentary rocks?

Answer 24

Sandstones, siltstones, mudstones and limestones.

Question 25

How is sediment formed?

Answer 25

Lithification/Cementation, or precipitation