Weathering And Soils

Front 1

List all of Earth's systems and composition

Back 1

Geosphere- Regolith (rock and mineral fragments)
Hydrosphere- Water
Atmosphere- Air
Biosphere- Organic material

Front 2

Process of unloading

Back 2

-Erosion strips overlying material
-Decrease in overlying pressure (load) causes underlying rock to expand upward
-Leads to pressure release cracks in exposed rock

Front 3

Wedging

Back 3

-Water enters cracks in surface materials
-Temp. drop causes water to freeze, expand, and force cracks to expand
-Process repeats

Hint 3

example: potholes

Front 4

Define Chemical Weathering

Back 4

The decomposition of rock due to the chemical breakdown of minerals

Front 5

Process of Dissolution

Back 5

-Minerals in rock are dissolved by water

Hint 5

example: acid rain removes detail of a statue

Front 6

Process of Hydrolysis

Back 6

-Hydrogen ions (H+) in water replace other ions in silicate minerals

Hint 6

example: feldspar reacts with water and H ions to form clay

Front 7

Process of Oxidation

Back 7

-Oxygen reacts with iron and other metals to form new mineral compounds

Hint 7

example: rust on a car

Front 8

Describe Compositional Control

Back 8

1. weathering is faster in rocks of weaker material composition or easily converted material (feldspars)

2. weathering is faster in rocks made up of minerals that dissolve in water (salt, gypsum)

3. slower in rocks made of resistant materials (quartz)

Front 9

Rock property control

Back 9

1. weathering faster in rocks that allow air and water in (porous)
2. fractures are natural weathering surfaces
3.igneous and metamorphic rocks generally have low porosity