EARTH333 Study Guide - Final Guide: Soil Horizon, Silicate Minerals, Chelation

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Earth Sciences
• Course: EARTH333
• Professor: Martin Ross

Document Summary

Part 1: origin and transport of sedimentary materials. Freeze-thaw (frost weathering): no significant change in chemical/mineralogical composition a) Water expands when it freezes cracks the rock. Water must be trapped in rock body. Expansion of rock surfaces heated by sun + contraction as temp falls. Weakens bonds along grain boundaries flaking of rock fragments and dislodging of mineral. Crystallization of salt in pore spaces and fractures. Evaporation of water increased concentration of salts. Most common in semiarid regions, also occurs along seacoasts: wetting and drying: Drying = negative pore pressures and contraction. Effective on well-exposed steep cliff faces e) Overlying rock removed by erosion compressional stress on rock is reduced rock. Expansion of rock upward = tensile stress fractures (parallel to topographic surface) Most evident in homogeneous rocks (granite), also occurs in layered rock like massive sandstone: other physical processes: Absorption of water/hydration by clay minerals/other minerals volume increases.