WEATHERING PROCESSES

 Def: This is the break down and decay of rocks in situ

 There are two types of weathering;

a) Physical or Mechanical weathering

Def: It involves the break up or disintegration of rocks by physical processes e.g. by temp

changes

b) Chemical weathering

 This is the decay or decomposition of rocks

 This is achieved by water acting as a dilute acidic solution which causes chemical reactions within
the mineral constituents of rocks.

NOTE: Some authorities identify a third type of weathering they call Biological weathering. This is
either physical or chemical weathering but involves the action of living organisms. E.g. where rocks
are broken up due to the penetration of roots or when humans break up rocks when using they
machinery.

As weathering breaks down rocks into smaller particles or new stable minerals, the weathered
materials forms a weathering mantle called regolith. This regolith sits on the unweathered rock
beneath and the boundary between the weathered and the unweathered bedrock is called the
weathering front. The regolith may finally form soil.

Factors affecting the rate and type of weathering

The rates of weathering at any place will depend upon the interrelationships between time,
topography, climate and rock type.

a) Climate – this is an important factor in the nature and rate of weathering processes operating. As
temperature increases, so does the rate of chemical reactions and therefore chemical weathering
increases. Water is also necessary for chemical reactions to take place. Maximum rates of chemical
reactions take place in the humid tropics where there is a constant supply of water and
temperatures are high. If water is in short supply, chemical weathering will be limited.

Temperature fluctuations between day and night and from season to season also affects the type
and rate of physical weathering. High temperature ranges cause expansion and contraction in rocks
which causes the build up of stresses within the rock leading to the physical break up of the rock.
These temperature changes may also cause the freezing and thawing of water in cracks leading to
more physical weathering.

b) Rock porosity and structural weakness

Porous rocks allow water to enter within the rock through small spaces between rock particles.
Porous rocks will therefore besubjected to more chemical weathering within and outside the rock.
Porosity also improves physical processes such as freeze thaw action.

Structural weaknesses occur in the form of joints and bedding planes which allow water to pass
water to enter the rock and increase rates of weathering.
c) Rock Type - Rock type determines the rock minerals which are decomposed by weathering
processes and any zones or lines of weakness in the rock.

Vulnerability of rocks to chemical weathering will depend on the mineral composition of the rock.
E.g. Limestone contains much calcium carbonate which is easily attacked by dilute carbonic acid to
produce a distinctive Karst landscape.

Granite consists of quartz, mica and feldspar. It is the decomposition of mica and feldspar which
help to weaken the rock. Felspar decomposes to China clay which has a high economic value. Quartz
may not weather at all and may form the loose particles of sand when the clay is washed away.

Rocks formed under conditions of high pressure and heat underground will be weakened greatly if
exposed to different conditions on the surface. They will therefore easily breakup.

Some rocks have structural weaknesses because of their type. Sedimentary rocks will naturally have
bedding planes and joints because they are laid down in layers during their formation. These joints
will affect rate of chemical weathering.

d) Local conditions - there are many factors which affect the rate of weathering at a local scale.

Topography and slope both influence the rate of water movement through the regolith to the
unweathered bed rock. Steep slopes loose water quickly and these reduces the rate of weathering.

Aspect (the direction faced by the slope) also affects the rate of chemical weathering especially in
temperate regions. South facing slopes will be warmer in the northern hemisphere than north facing
slopes. This means that chemical weathering will be higher on the south facing slopes than on the
north facing ones because of the higher temperatures.

Vegetation cover on the surface affects the rate of weathering. A canopy of vegetation increases the
rate at which water sinks into the ground while on bare ground most of the water will flow off.
Decaying vegetation also releases acids and chemicals which speed up chemical weathering.
Exposed rock outcrops will be protected from the direct effects of the sun which will reduce the
effects of physical weathering.

PHYSICAL WEATHERING PROCESSES

1. Insolation Weathering (Exfoliation)

During the day the outer surface expands faster than the inside and this leads the stresses within the
rock which results in the outer layers peeling off. Cracks parallel to the surface develop as a result.

At night the outer surface is exposed to cooler temperatures will the inside is still expanding. This
leads to cracks which develop at right angles to the surface.

Eventually angular boulders known as scree will fall off from the main rock and pile up at the foot of
the slope.

This process is called block disintergration as it leads to the formation of large angular boulders.

Results of Insolation weathering

ii. Scree mounds of angular material at the foot of the slope. The scree continues to break up due to
heating and cooling.

Note: In rocks made of different rock minerals where other minerals are lighter in color and others
are darker, the minerals will expand and contract at different rates. This will lead to the build up of
stress within the rock leading to the weakening of the rock. This is called Thermal shattering. The
rock is eventually broken down by other processes into individual grains, a process called granular
disintegration.

2. Frost action/Freeze Thaw Action

When water freezes, its volume increases. If water freezes in rock crevices and cracks, it exerts
some lateral and vertical forces within the cracks.

These forces will widen and deepen the cracks, the alternate freezing and thawing will continue to
widen and deepen the cracks until the rock is broken up into angular blocks and other smaller
fragments.

DRAW DIAGRAM

The Results of Frost Action

i. The rocks from which the scree breaks off develop into large rectangular shaped blocks.

ii. Angular Scree is deposited at the bottom of the slope and through time may form scree slopes.

NOTE: Where the rock is porous and water enters the rock and then freezes while within the rock,
this causes stresses within the rock which lead to granular disintegration. This is what is called Frost
shattering.

3. Pressure Release
When rocks are are formed underground, they are under great pressure because of the crustal
rocks above them. When eventually the material is removed by agents of denudation, the rocks will
heave and cracks parallel to the surface will develop within them as they adjust to the lesser
pressure above them. These cracks can beused by other forms of weathering to further weaken the
rock.

4. Salt Crystallisation

Ocuurs where salty water enters pore spaces in rocks and eventually evaporates forming salt
crystals. As the crystals become larger, they exert stresses upon the rock causing it to break down.
This is common in hot deserts and in coastal areas.

CHEMICAL WEATHERING PROCESSES

1. Oxidation – occurs in rocks which contain iron as one of their mineral constituents. Oxygen in air
and water reacts with iron in rocks to form a weak iron oxide. The rock is therefore weakened and
crumbles easily.

2. Carbonation – carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form a weak carbonic acid. This acid reacts
with rocks with rocks which contain calcium carbonate turning it into calcium bi carbonate which
easily dissolves in water. This is how limestone is weathered and is carried away in solution.
3. Hydrolysis – in this case hydrogen in water reacts with rock minerals such as feldspar to form a
residual clay known as china clay. This weakens a granite rock as the other minerals are no longer
bonded together.

4. Hydration – this is the reaction between water and rock minerals which causes rocks

to swell and become vulnerable to other forms of weathering