Weathering Flashcards
What is weathering?
The breakdown of rocks in situ
Name the 3 types of weathering?
Biological, Chemical, Physical/Mechanical
What is biological weathering?
Biological weathering is weathering by plants and animals.
What is chemical weathering?
The disintegration of rocks caused by chemical reaction.
What is physical weathering?
The breakdown of rocks by physical processes such as temperature change, wind and rain.
Name some types of physical weathering
Freeze-thaw, exfoliation, salt crystallization and pressure release.
Name some types of chemical weathering
Carbonation and Oxidation
Explain carbonation (chemical )
When limestone reacts with rainwater
Explain oxidation (chemical)
Reaction of rock minerals with oxygen.
Explain freeze-thaw (physical)
- ) When water enters a rock and freezes
- ) When it the ice forms and freezes the crack enlarges.
- ) The ice melts and the water makes its way deeper into the crack
- ) This cycle repeats until the rock is fully weathered.
Explain exfoliation
It weathering that causes rocks to peel of like an onion.
Factors affecting rate of weathering
Exposure to atmosphere, temperature, season, climate, time.
