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CO5.1.1 Exogenic Processes. Weathering

Geologic processes that shape the earth due to forces at or above the surface are known as exogenic processes. These include weathering, which changes solid rock into sediments through mechanical or chemical means. Mechanical weathering physically breaks rocks into smaller pieces through processes like frost wedging, root wedging, crystal wedging, abrasion by other rocks or organisms, and human activities like quarrying. Chemical weathering alters the composition of rocks through chemical reactions with water, carbonic acid, oxygen, and biological processes. The rate of both mechanical and chemical weathering is influenced by rock type and climate, being highest in warm, wet climates.

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68 views19 pages

CO5.1.1 Exogenic Processes. Weathering

Geologic processes that shape the earth due to forces at or above the surface are known as exogenic processes. These include weathering, which changes solid rock into sediments through mechanical or chemical means. Mechanical weathering physically breaks rocks into smaller pieces through processes like frost wedging, root wedging, crystal wedging, abrasion by other rocks or organisms, and human activities like quarrying. Chemical weathering alters the composition of rocks through chemical reactions with water, carbonic acid, oxygen, and biological processes. The rate of both mechanical and chemical weathering is influenced by rock type and climate, being highest in warm, wet climates.

Uploaded by

Ken Aguila
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exogenic processes

Geologic processes that shape the earth due to


forces at or above the surface.

exo – ancient Greek ἔξω (éxō, “outer, external”)


weathering
• process that changes solid rock into sediments
• rock is disintegrated, broken into pieces
weathering. MECHANICAL
• also known as physical weathering
• rock has changed physically without changing its composition
• smaller pieces have the same minerals, in just the same
proportions as the original rock
weathering. MECHANICAL
wedging
• ice or frost wedging
• root wedging
• salt or crystal wedging
weathering. MECHANICAL
ice or frost wedging
weathering. MECHANICAL

root wedging
weathering. MECHANICAL

crystal wedging
weathering. MECHANICAL
abrasion
• one rock bumps against another
rock
• caused by:
• gravity
• moving water
• strong winds
• ice
• makes rocks with sharp or jagged
edges smooth and round
weathering. MECHANICAL
organisms
• a plant’s roots grow into a crack or fracture in rock and
gradually grow larger
• burrowing animals
weathering. MECHANICAL
humans
• digging or blasting into rock
• quarrying stone
weathering. CHEMICAL
• changes the composition of rocks
• may change the size of pieces of rock materials
• one type of mineral changes into a different mineral
• works through chemical reactions
• happens when minerals are no longer stable
• converts many minerals to clay
weathering. CHEMICAL
water
• water molecules separate the ions from their compounds and
surround them
• water can completely dissolve some minerals, such as salt
• hydrolysis. chemical reaction between a chemical compound
and water
weathering. CHEMICAL
carbonic acid
• carbon dioxide (CO2)
combines with water as
raindrops fall through the
atmosphere to form a weak
acid, called carbonic acid
• very common in nature, where
it works to dissolve rock
weathering. CHEMICAL
oxygen
• oxidation is a chemical
reaction that takes place
when oxygen reacts with
another element
• iron reacts with oxygen to
create rust
• very strongly chemically
reactive
weathering. CHEMICAL
plants and animals
• as plant roots take in soluble ions as nutrients, certain elements
are exchanged
• plant roots and bacterial decay use carbon dioxide in the
process of respiration
weathering. MECHANICAL & CHEMICAL
weathering. MECHANICAL & CHEMICAL
influences
• rock and mineral type
• different rock and mineral types weather at different rate
weathering. MECHANICAL & CHEMICAL
influences
• climate
• determined by the temperature of a region plus the amount
of precipitation it receives
• weather averaged over a long period of time
• Chemical weathering increases as:
• temperature increases
• precipitation increases
weathering. MECHANICAL & CHEMICAL
influences
• climate
• cold, dry climate will produce the lowest rate of weathering
• warm, wet climate will produce the highest rate of weathering
• greater rate of biological weathering

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