Transcript Slide 1

Roots:
Cata = down
Caust = to burn
Ceed = to yield
Ceive = to take
Celer = fast
Cent = hundred
Centr = center
Cephalo = head
Cerebro = brain
Cert = sure
catacombs
caustic
recede
receive
accelerate
centipede
egocentric
encephalitis
cerebral
certain
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
Chemical Weathering
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
Occurs when
physical forces
break rock into
smaller and
smaller pieces
without changing
the rock’s mineral
composition.
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
Three main mechanical
weathering forces:
Frost
Wedging
Breaking of rocks intoBiological
smaller pieces
which
provides more surface area for
Unloading
Activity
chemical weathering processes.
Talus = large piles of broken rock.
Pg. 127 Figure 2
Pg. 127 Figure 3
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
Three main mechanical
weathering forces:
When large
masses of
igneous
rock are
Frost
exposed from
Wedging
uplifting and
erosion of
overlying rocks.
Unloading
Biological
Activity
Pg 128 Figure 4
Exfoliation = when outer layers of rock separate and
break loose.
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
Three main mechanical
weathering forces:
Breaking
of rocks into smaller pieces
Frost
by the actions of plants,
burrowing
Unloading
Wedging
animals
and humans.
Biological
Activity
Pg. 128 Figure 5
Chemical Weathering
Transformation
of rock into one
or more NEW
compounds.
Chemical Weathering
Water
• Most important agent of chemical
weathering.
• Absorbs gases from air and ground.
• Oxygen in water reacts to form
oxides
(like rust). Silicate
Granite
Spheroidal
Weathering
• Weathering
Carbon DioxideWeathering
in water reacts
to
form carbonic acid.
• Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides in water
turn into acids that can erode
monuments and structures.
Chemical Weathering
Water
Granite
Weathering
• Granite is mostly feldspar
and quartz.
• Carbonic
water
Silicate acid inSpheroidal
Weathering
Weathering
turns
the feldspar
into clay.
• Quartz is released and
washed away.
Chemical Weathering
• Silicates make up most of
Earth’s crust.
• Composed of 8 elements .
• Sodium, calcium,
Granite
potassium,
and
magnesium
Water
are carried awayWeathering
by ground
water.
• Iron becomes rust.
• Aluminum, silicon and
oxygen turn to clay.
Silicate
Weathering
Spheroidal
Weathering
Chemical Weathering
Water
• When chemical
weathering changes both
the physical shape and the
chemical
of
Granitecomposition
Silicate
Spheroidal
the
rock.
Weathering
Weathering
Weathering
• Water rounds corners and
edges fastest making them
rounded.
Pg. 131
Figures A & B
RATE OF WEATHERING
1. Physical characteristics of a specific rock (like cracks)
influence waterproofing.
RATE OF WEATHERING
2. Mineral composition determines a rock’s resistance
to weathering.
RATE OF WEATHERING
3. Crystal formation determines a rock’s resistance to
decomposition. (Olivine crystallizes first and
weathers rapidly; Quartz crystallizes last and
weathers slowly.)
RATE OF WEATHERING
4. Climate (especially temperature and moisture)
determines the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles, etc.
RATE OF WEATHERING
5. Differential weathering refers to different parts of
a rock that may weather at different rates.