Erosion
The removal of Earth's surface materials by water, air, or ice.
have to be weathered ignorer for it to be eroded
Weathering
The processes that break up and corrode solid rock, eventually transforming it into sediment.
There is two types of weathering:
Physical
Chemical
Physical weathering
The process in which intact rock breaks into smaller grains or chunks by mechanical means
Frost wedging
The process in which water trapped in open space in a rock freezes, forcing the space open
physical weathering
Root wedging
Roots extend along open spaces in a rock, forcing them to expand.
This is a type of physical weathering.
Salt wedging
The process in arid climates or coastal areas where dissolved salt in water crystallizes and grows in open pore spaces in rocks and pushes them apart.
This is a type of physical weathering.
Ventification
abrasion of rock by high winds that contain sand or silt within it
physical weathering
Exfoliation
The process by which an outcrop of rock splits apart into onion-like sheets along joints that lie parallel to the ground surface
physical weathering
Thermal expansion
heating of a rock causes it to expand and break apart.
physical weathering
Biological means
Biological organisms, such as insects, can cause rocks to break apart
physical weathering
joints
open fractures in the rocks
Chemical weathering
The process in which chemical reactions alter or destroy minerals or rocks when they come into contact with water solutions and/or air
Dissolution
minerals and rocks are dissolved in water. A form of chemical weathering
Oxidation
A reaction in which an element loses electrons; an example is the reaction of iron with air to form rust
chemical weathering
Hydration
The absorption of water into the crystal structure of minerals.
This is a type of chemical weathering.
Hydrolysis
The process in which water chemically reacts with minerals and breaks them down.
This is a type of chemical weathering.
Chemical weather by organisms
can occur when biological organisms secrete organic acids that dissolve minerals; or, microbes, such as the bacteria shown above, can metabolize minerals
Soil
combination of mineral and organic matter, water, and air - that portion of the earth's surface that supports the growth of plants.
Humus
partially decayed organic matter.
soil layers.
O
A
E
B
C
residual soil
Soils come from the direct alteration of bedrock
transported soil
they are carried some distance before they are deposited
Till
the unsorted sediment that is deposited directly by a glacier, is
an example of a transported soil.
Erosion
The removal of Earth's surface materials by water, air, or ice.
have to be weathered ignorer for it to be eroded
Weathering
The processes that break up and corrode solid rock, eventually transforming it into sediment.
There is two types of weathering:
Physical
Chemical
Physical weathering
The process in which intact rock breaks into smaller grains or chunks by mechanical means
Frost wedging
The process in which water trapped in open space in a rock freezes, forcing the space open
physical weathering
Root wedging
Roots extend along open spaces in a rock, forcing them to expand.
This is a type of physical weathering.
Salt wedging
The process in arid climates or coastal areas where dissolved salt in water crystallizes and grows in open pore spaces in rocks and pushes them apart.
This is a type of physical weathering.
Ventification
abrasion of rock by high winds that contain sand or silt within it
physical weathering
Exfoliation
The process by which an outcrop of rock splits apart into onion-like sheets along joints that lie parallel to the ground surface
physical weathering
Thermal expansion
heating of a rock causes it to expand and break apart.
physical weathering
Biological means
Biological organisms, such as insects, can cause rocks to break apart
physical weathering
joints
open fractures in the rocks
Chemical weathering
The process in which chemical reactions alter or destroy minerals or rocks when they come into contact with water solutions and/or air
Dissolution
minerals and rocks are dissolved in water. A form of chemical weathering
Oxidation
A reaction in which an element loses electrons; an example is the reaction of iron with air to form rust
chemical weathering
Hydration
The absorption of water into the crystal structure of minerals.
This is a type of chemical weathering.
Hydrolysis
The process in which water chemically reacts with minerals and breaks them down.
This is a type of chemical weathering.
Chemical weather by organisms
can occur when biological organisms secrete organic acids that dissolve minerals; or, microbes, such as the bacteria shown above, can metabolize minerals
Soil
combination of mineral and organic matter, water, and air - that portion of the earth's surface that supports the growth of plants.
Humus
partially decayed organic matter.
soil layers.
O
A
E
B
C
residual soil
Soils come from the direct alteration of bedrock
transported soil
they are carried some distance before they are deposited
Till
the unsorted sediment that is deposited directly by a glacier, is
an example of a transported soil.