Weathering

Presenting by Dr. S. Siva Murthy Reddy Professor Dept. of Civil Engineering Pondicherry Engineering College Pondicheery

Introduction
It is a process represent an adjustment of mineral to the prevailing conditions.

Rate of weathering
The following are the factors which influences the rate of weathering.
Intensity of weathering agents:
The weathering agents may be Mineralogical composition Texture Physical properties Strength of rocks Discontinuities Meteorological conditions

Types of weathering process

Mechanical weathering.
Mechanical unloading:
Erosion of overburden leads to reduction in vertical load leading to vertical expansion of underlying rock layers. The vertical expansion might cause the expansion of existing openings and also initiate the formation of new joints.

Mechanical loading:
Impact and abrasion of wind borne sand size particles cause weathering in deserts regions. Also, sediment borne glaciers and running water rivers can cause impact and abrasion on the rocks in river banks as well as river beds to promote the weathering

Mechanical weathering
Thermal loading:
Freezing of water in pores/ joints in cold regions and heating of in hot regions leads to expansion of rock activating the weathering. Also, contraction by cooling of rocks/ soils in cold regions promote weathering

Wetting and drying:

cyclic wetting and drying process associate with absorption and loosing of water leads to expansion and contraction respectively. The absorption of water initiate expansion, paving the way for mechanical weathering of rocks and soils. Further, absorption of water hasten the process of solution , oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis.

Mechanical weathering
Crystallization:
Crystallization of minerals due to evaporation of pore water develop internal stress leading to the expansion of pores and fissures.

Pneumatic loading:
The repeated load on air trapped at the head of the fissures exposed in the wave zone of a sea cliff by the waves.

Chemical weathering:
The rate of chemical weathering process depends on presence of water. Also, it depends upon activity of root zone such as the rate of growth of vegetation, production of

Chemical weathering
CO2 and the frequency with which percolating rain water can flush weathered constituents from weathering profile. The types of processes involved in chemical weathering are as follows.
Solution: water with high dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitric acid can act as a good solvent and dissolve the minerals to dissociate in to ions. Oxidation: The combination oxygen with a mineral to form as oxides and hydroxides. Reduction: The release of oxygen mineral structure to it surrounding environment.

Chemical weathering
Hydration: Absorption of water molecules in to the crystal lattice space. The absorbed water hasten the process of solution, oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis. Hydrolysis: Replacement of cations in minerals with hydrogen ion present in percolating water. Leaching: The migration of ions produced during the processes such as solution, oxidation, reduction, hydration and hydrolysis. The mobility of ions depends upon their ionic potential. Cation exchange: Absorption of positively charged ions such as K, Ca , H and Mg on to the surface of negatively charged clay particles.

 Biological weathering