Rocks and Weathering

I. Weathering
A. The process that breaks rocks down on
Earths surface.
B. Erosion - moves rock particles away
from original location.
II. Mechanical Weathering
A. Physically breaks rock into smaller
pieces.
B. Abrasion
1. Rock particles grinding against other rock
due to wind or water.
C. Heating and Cooling
1. Sun or forest fire can heat
the outside of a rock more
quickly than the inside. This
causes it to flake off in layers.


D. Ice Wedging (freezing
and thawing)
1. When water freezes inside a
crack in the rock, it expands (ice
is less dense than water,
remember?) and pushes the
rock apart.

E. Plant Growth
1. Roots of plants can enter a crack in a rock.
As the roots grow, they force the rock apart.

F. Animal Actions
1. Burrowing animals (moles, gophers, prairie
dogs, insects) loosen and break apart rocks in
the soil.
III. Chemical Weathering
A. The process that breaks down rocks
through chemical changes.
B. Water
1. Water can dissolve many rocks or certain
minerals in the rock.
C. Carbon Dioxide
1. CO
2
becomes dissolved in rainwater as it
soaks into the ground. It becomes carbonic
acid. This easily weathers limestone and
marble. (marble is the slide background)
D. Oxygen
1. Oxygen reacts with iron when water is
present and rust (iron oxide) forms. Rocks that
contain iron turn a reddish color. (This is why
Mars is red, it has a lot of iron oxide in the soil.)
E. Living Organisms
1. Plant roots and lichens secrete acids that
chemically weather rock.

F. Acid Rain
1. Burning oil, coal, and gas produces
pollution. These nitrogen and sulfur
compounds mix in clouds and causes rainfall to
be more acidic. This can chemically
breakdown rocks and damage statues and
gravestones.
IV. Rate of Weathering
A. Type of Rock
1. More permeable, softer rock
weathers faster.
2. Limestone and marble weather
fast.
3. Granite weathers slowly.
B. Climate
1. Weathering occurs faster in
warm, moist climates.
2. Cool, dry climates are where
weathering is slowest.