Geology Unit

Lesson 3: Earth’s Weathered

Crust

09/30/08 Mrs. S. Iannacci - DSM Earth's Processes 1

 Weathering is
• the process in which rocks are exposed to
the elements (wind, water, temperature)
and gradually break down.

• Two types of Weathering:

– Chemical Weathering

– Mechanical Weathering
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 Chemical Weathering
• Breakdown of rocks caused by chemical
reactions with other substances.

• Result is a change in the chemical

composition of the rocks.

Canyon de Chelly, National Monument,

Arizona

09/30/08 Mrs. S. Iannacci - DSM Earth's Processes 3

 Chemical Weathering
Oxygen
Iron in
Acid Rain
rocks
Made these rusts due
to Oxygen
rocks jagged.
in air.

Rain water
Plant Weathered
Acids Badlands
Break National
park In
down South
rock. Dakota

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 Mechanical Weathering
• The physical breakdown of rocks into
smaller pieces.
• Gradually reduces the rocks to tiny
particles that make up soil.
3. Wind produces

09/30/08 Mrs. S. Iannacci - DSM Earth's Processes 5

 Mechanical Weathering
3. Ice Wedging
2. Roots of
- Water freezes
plants wedge
in the rock’s
into rocks.
cracks.
Rocks break into
Rocks break
smaller pieces.
apart.

4.
Temperature 5. Pressure
changes- breaks apart
Causes rock rock
to expand and
contract then
break apart.
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 Examples of Mechanical
Weathering
• The Grand Canyon

• 4 heads – Washington,
Jefferson, Roosevelt and
Lincoln – patched every
year due to wind.

• Weeds on Jefferson’s
cheeks are mowed to
prevent acids from plant
roots
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 Soil
• Type of soil that is produced by
weathering depends on the type of rock
that is broken down.

– Sandstone and quartz breaks

down into sand.

– Feldspar produces clay.

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 Review of Weathering
• http://
www.geography.ndo.co.uk/animationsweather

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