Grade 7 - Geography

Rocks and weathering

By……
Charan kumar V S
Dept. of Geography
What is rock ?
Any natural mass of mineral matter that makes
up the earth's crust is called a rock. Rocks can be of
different colour, size and texture. There are three
major types of rocks: igneous rocks, sedimentary
rocks and metamorphic rocks.

What is mineral ?
A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid,
with a definite chemical composition, and an
ordered atomic arrangement.
Difference Between Rocks and Minerals
 Igneous rocks
These are formed by cooling the molten lava on or inside the earth’s surface during
volcanic eruption. They don’t contain any fossils or shells. The rocks may be acidic or
alkaline depending upon silica content.

When magma is forced up as volcanic eruptions and spreads over the surface of earth
where it solidifies, it forms basalt and trap. These are known as effusive rocks.
If the magma solidifies below the earth’s surface itself, the solid crystalline
rock is termed as deep-seated plutonic rock. The examples are granite,
syenite, diorite and gabbro.

If the magma solidifies at a relatively shallow depth, the resultant rock
possesses a finely grained crystalline structure—and is termed as hypabyssal
rock. Dolerite is such a rock.

The principal constituents of magma are quartz, mica and felspar.

Intrusive igneous:
Intrusive igneous rocks are formed from magma
that cools and solidifies beneath the Earth's
surface. The slow cooling process allows large
crystals to form.

Extrusive Igneous Rocks:

Extrusive igneous rocks are formed from lava
that cools and solidifies on the Earth's surface.
The rapid cooling process results in smaller
crystals.
Characteristics of Igneous Rocks

 The igneous form of rocks does not include any fossil deposits.

 Most igneous forms include more than one mineral deposit.

 Igneous rocks are granular or crystalline rocks

 They can be either glassy or coarse.

 These usually do not react with acids.

 The mineral deposits are available in the form of patches with different sizes.

 In all, the igneous rocks are roughly hard rocks and water percolates with great
difficulty along the joints.

 Igneous rocks do not have strata like sedi­mentary rocks.

 Igneous rocks are mostly associated with the volcanic activities and thus they
are also called as volcanic rocks.
 Sedimentary rocks

Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and cementation of

mineral and organic particles on the Earth's surface. They are often found in
layers and can contain fossils.
These are formed by gradual deposition of disintegrated rocks at the bottom of
rivers, lakes or sea.

Sedimentary rocks resulting from the precipitation of salts in drying water

basin (chemical deposits) are gypsum, anhydrite, magnesite, dolomite, lime
tufas.
Sedimentary rocks resulting from the
accumulation of plant or animal remains
(organogenous rocks) are limestone,
shale, chalk, diatomite and tripoli.

The examples of rocks resulting from the

deterioration of massive magmatic or
sedimentary rocks (fragmental rocks)
are sandstone, laterite, sand, gravel,
carbonate conglomerate and breccia.
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks:

Clastic sedimentary rocks are made up of fragments of other

rocks. These fragments are transported by water, wind, or ice,
and then deposited and compacted into solid rock.

Chemical Sedimentary Rocks:

Chemical sedimentary rocks are formed from the precipitation
of minerals from water. These minerals crystallize and form
solid rock.

Organic Sedimentary Rocks:

Organic sedimentary rocks are made up of organic material,
primarily the remains of plants and animals.
Characteristics of sedimentary rocks are

 They are also called as Secondary rocks.

 They are found on Earth in a large amount about 75%.

 They are formed due to deposition of sediments, so they are soft.

 They are generally non shiny and non crystalline.

 Sedimentary rocks are classified into 3 on the basis of the sediments

 Metamorphic Rocks

What is a metamorphic rock?

The term "metamorphic" means "to change form."
Any rock (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic) can become a
metamorphic rock. If rocks are buried deep in the Earth at high
temperatures and pressures, they form new minerals and
textures all without melting. If melting occurs, magma is formed,
starting the rock cycle all over again.
Metamorphic rocks

These are formed when sedimentary or

igneous rocks are subjected to great
heat and pressure inside the earth. The
metamorphic process causes a complete
recrystallization of the original rock into
an interlocking mosaic of calcite,
aragonite and/or dolomite crystals.
Characteristics of Metamorphic Rock
 Rarely has fossils.
 May react with acid.
 May have alternate bands of light and dark
minerals.
 May be composed of only one mineral.
 May have layers of visible crystals.
 Usually made of mineral crystals of different sizes.
 The Rock Cycle!

Each of these three types of rock can turn into any

of the other types, if exposed to the right
conditions.

The formation of the three rock types, through

Rock Cycle processes, happens in the earth’s crust.
 WEATHERING
• The internal forces operating in the interior of
the earth are described as 'Constructive Forces'
because they lead to the formation of
landforms on the surface of the earth. Some
forces also operate on the surface of the earth.
They are known as exogenic forces (exo in Greek
means outside).
• These external forces act on the surface of the
earth through several processes such as
weathering, mass wasting, erosion,
transportation, deposition and formation of Soil.

• These forces derive their energy from the sun. In

all these cases, climate acts as the driving agent.
Syllabus Weathering and Denudation* Meaning,
types and effects of weathering.
 WEATHERING is the process of BREAKING
DOWN OF ROCKS but NOT its REMOVAL.

It is described as DISINTEGRATION OR DECOMPOSITION OF A

ROCK IN SIZE by natural agents at or near the surface of the earth.

It is the change in weather conditions like temperature, moisture,

precipitation that disintegrate or break down the rocks.
 WEATHERING
WEATHERING cannot take place on the
moon's surface where such conditions do
not exist.

The footprints left on the moon by

astronauts will last for millions of years.

Thus, weathering is the basic process and

an essential phase of denudation as
described above
 Chief Characteristics Of
Weathering
 Weathering involves disintegration or decay of solid rocks.

 It depends on climatic conditions and on the characteristics of

rocks.

 For example, chemical composition, hardness, texture and its

permeability (allowing water penetrate) determines the
weathering pattern.

 Weathering affects the surface of the earth.

 Chief Characteristics Of
Weathering

 Weathering causes formation of soil.

 Weathering involves not one but several

processes to cause disintegration of rocks.

 Weathering changes hard massive rocks into

finer materials.

 It prepares rock materials for transportation by

agents of gradation.
WEATHERING, as already stated,
is A STATIC PROCESS.

The disintegration of rocks may

occur through physical forces,
chemical forces or by roots of
plants, animals, insects, etc.
 TYPES OF
WEATHERING
PHYSICAL CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL
Agents of Weathering
Physical Weathering

Physical weathering is also known as mechanical

weathering. It involves rock disintegration without
any change in the chemical constituents of the rock.
It includes the breaking up of rocks without
changing their composition.
It means the disintegration of rocks by
mechanical means. This type of weathering results
from the action of temperature changes, frost, wind,
and rainfall.
Main factors responsible for
physical weathering
Block Disintegration

The sudden rise and fall of temperature

causes expansion and the repeated action
causes their breakdown.

At night the temperature suddenly falls and

during the day it rises suddenly. This leads to
tension and splitting of rocks known as block
disintegration.
Granular Disintegration
Since rocks are made up of
different minerals, weathering may
also reduce rocks to pieces and
fragments. This type of disintegration

is called granular disintegration.

Frost Action.
The granular disintegration may also
take place in cold places and at high
altitudes. The cracks and joints of rocks
are filled with water during the day and at
night the water freezes leading to rupture
of rocks on account of repeated actions of
melting freezing. This is called frost
action.
Exfoliation :
Sudden temperature changes may
also cause fissures into which
penetrates which in turn stimulates
chemical weathering. Most rocks
are not good conductors of heat.
The sudden contraction and
expansion peels off the outer layer
known as exfoliation.
Chemical Weathering
Chemical Weathering In chemical
weathering, some or all of the minerals in
the rocks suffer decay or alteration by
such agents as water, oxygen, carbon or
various organic acids. It leads to
decomposition of rocks and minerals as
chemical reaction transform them into
different chemical combinations.
Four Main Processes Are:

Oxidation Hydration

Carbonation
Solution
Oxidation
It means reaction of minerals in
rocks to atmospheric oxygen. The
rainwater also contains atmospheric
oxygen. On coming in contact with
iron compounds in rocks, the iron
starts rusting or crumbling. The color
of the rock also changes to red,
yellow or brown.
 Carbonation
Many mineral constituents of rocks such as
carbon dioxide while coming in contact with
water produce acidic effect on rocks. This
action dissolves most calcareous rocks such
as gypsum, marble and limestone. However,
this action should not be mistaken for
solution. In the case of carbonation, rainwater
converts calcium carbonate into calcium
bicarbonate which is soluble and is taken
away by the ground water.
 Hydration

In this process, expansion of minerals

occurs on coming into contact with
rainwater. These minerals become heavy
and start disintegrating. This action,
though can be termed as physical or
mechanical, its effect in hydration is a
chemical process. Rocks like feldspar are
converted into kaolin.
 Solution
It is the process in which minerals in the rocks
dissolve in water. All rocks are subjected to
solution to some extent. The rate at which solution
takes place is affected not only by the mineral
composition of the rock but also by its structure.
For example, sedimentary rocks have pore-spaces
between the grains in which air and water can
lodge and thus attack the rocks. Some rock
minerals such as salts are more soluble in water
than others. For example, rainwater causes
chemical disintegration of rock-salt and gypsum.
Biological Weathering

It is also known as Organic

Weathering. Its main agents are
animals, insects, plants and man. In
all the cases, however, both physical
disintegration and/or chemical
decomposition are involved. This is
because all biological matter is made
up of oxygen and water, the two
substances that set off reaction of
Types of Organic weathering

Plants Human Activity Animals and insects

Plants:
Roots of large trees reach deep into
rocks and cause physical disintegration
due to pressure. Most of vegetation,
however, prevents disintegration of
rocks because it binds the surface layer
and does not allow exposure of rocks
beneath to the elements of weathering.
Human :
Man is the most active
agent of both physical
and chemical weathering
of rocks. For example:
mining, excavations,
construction of roads,
buildings, etc. cause
physical disintegration of
rocks. Agriculture,
dumping of chemicals
Animals and Insects:
Animals like rabbits, worms, moles and
insects bring large quantities of fine
material to the surface. Burrowing
animals help to loosen the surface
materials around the rocks facilitating
their physical disintegration. Upon death,
the decaying animals also provide many
chemicals and acids for rock
disintegration
 In Equatorial climates, humidity temperature are constantly his Weathering
specially chemical weather is more active in these regions.

 In Tropical climates, there is a marked dry season and wet season. Difference
in heating leads to consistently high rate of evaporation. During wet season
precipitation of oxides of iron and aluminum takes place from rocks. This
promotes formation of laterite soils.

 In Dry climates or deserts, mechanical weathering is most dominant due to

high diurnal range of temperature.
 In Mid-latitudes or Temperate Climates, the most powerful agent of
weathering is the frost action. In limestone areas, 'Solution' or chemical
weathering operates on a large scale.

 In Polar climates, physical weathering due to frost action is more prevalent.

Chemical and biological weathering in these areas is negligible. However,
recent studies have shown that the melting water of polar regions contains
more carbonic acid content because carbon dioxide is more soluble at low
temperatures than at high temperatures. This suggests that chemical
weathering is more active in polar regions
Soil formation
Soil
Erosion
Causes for Soil Erosion
THANK
YOU