Rocks and Weathering

Effects of Weathering
1. Process of mountain building goes to Earth's surface. At surface, rock becomes exposed to weathering
2. Weathering: Process that breaks down rock and other substances at Earth's surface
3. Heat, cold, water, ice, oxygen, carbon dioxide
  1. Repeated thawing can crack rock;rainwater can dissolve the minerals and crack it
Erosion: Movement of rock particles by wind, water, ice, or gravity
1. Weathering and erosion all contribute to wearing down rocks on the surface
Mechanical Weathering: Rock is physically broken into smaller pieces; these have the same composition as where they came from
1. Mechanical weathering breaks rock into pieces by freezing and thawing, release of pressure, growth of plants, and actions of animals
  1. Some geologists consider abrasion as erosion, but abrasion in tet is mechanical weahering
2. Abrasion: Refers to grinding away of rock particles carried by water, ice, wind, or gravity. This process is slow, but it does wear mountains
3. Ice wedging: In cool climates, most important force is the freezing and thawing of water
  1. Water seeps into cracks in rocks and then freezes when temp. drops; water expands and then forces rock apart
4. Release of Pressure: Erosion removes the top ass of a rock; then the bottom of the rock slowly degrades by release of pressure
5. Plant growth: Roots can force cracks in the rock to grow farther aoart.
6. Animal Sctions: Animals that burrow in ground loosen the soil and it can break apart
7. Water :Most important; weathers rock by dissolving it and mixes to make solution
Chemical Weathering: Process that breaks down rock through chemical processing
1. Agents of chemical wheathering: Water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, living organisms, and acid rain
2. Produces rock particles that have a different mineral makeup then the rock originated from; Creates holes in soft spots so it breaks easily
3. Oxygen: Most important cause; Oxygen can change iron (rust); Rock with iron also oxidizes
4. Carbon Dioxide: Dissolves in rainwater and in water that sinks through air pockets in soil
5. Living Organisms: Seeds push into cracks; While growing produce weak acids that wear rock
6. Acid Rain: Over 250 years people burn a bunch of coal, oil, and gas and pollute with sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen
Rate of Weathering: Type of rock and climate which factors teh rate
1. Type: Minerals determines the rate; if they dossolve easily then it is faster
  Annotations:
  - Hey, why not make a dang Note :P :P :P
  1. Some wears easily because it is permeable and has holes and cracks. Water removes dissolved material formed by weathering
2. Climate: Average weather conditions

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Rocks and Weathering

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	Created by Tynie Bear almost 12 years ago