Explaining Weathering and Erosion

Weathering

• Weathering is a process of rock disintegration into minerals due to stresses, and is influenced by various factors such as temperature and climate (moisture)

• It results to higher susceptibility to different forms of weathering

• Degree of weathering on rocks depends on:

  • minerals

  • kind of stress

• Rule of thumb:

  • minerals formed under high temperature and pressure = less resistant

  • minerals formed under low temperature and pressure = more resistant

The main difference between weathering and erosion is that weathering does not involve the transportation of the disintegrated materials. Weathering happens on a specific location and stays there until factors of erosion takes action. Therefore, weathering precedes erosion