ENVS 1050 Chapter 6: Geology Notes - week 6
12 Feb 2016
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Mechanical weathering: physical forces that break rock into smaller and smaller pieces without changing the rocks mineral composition. Biologic activity: plant roots, and nutrients with water grow into and expand fractures that provide a pathway for in ltration. lichens and mosses as well as decaying organisms help as well since they break down minerals. Chemical weathering: chemical transformation of rock into one or more new compounds. ** water plays a leading role in each of these. ** regardless of the source of acid, this highly reactive substance decomposes and produces certain products that are water soluble (example on page 114) Hydrolysis: the most common mineral group silicates are decomposed by this process. Reaction of any substance with water. (page 116) ** spheroidal weathering: happens when the rounding of the corners of the edges of an angular block, it gives the rock a more rounded or sphere shape.
