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Weathering
the process of rocks breaking down at or near the earths surface
do rocks always weather uniformly?
no, different rock types and even variations within the same rock can weather at different rates leading to uneven weathering patterns and often called differential weathering
products of mechanical weathering
small fragments of the original rock, essentially ‘debris’ which can include sand, slit, and clay particles
mechanical weathering
the process of breaking down rocks into fragments without changing the chemical composition of the minerals within the rock.
ways weathering occurs?
frost wedging, frost heaving, salt wedging, sheeting
frost wedging
water freezing cracks, pushes rocks apartWater-freezing cracks
frost heaving
the upward or outward movement of the ground surface by the growth of ground ice
salt wedging
salt crystals grow within cracks in rocks, causing them to expand and break apart the rock as the salt water evaporates
sheeting
large igneous rock masses expand and fracture due to pressure release
products of chemical weathering
clay mineral, dissolved ions, quartz
Chemical weathering
process by which minerals rock composition changes due to chemical reactions such as water, air, acids
What are the factors that control (affect) soil formation?
parent material, topography, climate, plants, animals/ other organisms, time
parent material
the type of rock that soil forms from determines its physical and chemical properties
topography
affects the movement of water, air, and nutrients in the landscape.
