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Warm-Up. How would you describe the difference between a new tombstone and one that is 100 years old?. Rocks & Weathering. The Effects of Weathering. Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks and other substances at Earth’s surface. Sierra Nevada Mtns. ~20 myo.
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Warm-Up How would you describe the difference between a new tombstone and one that is 100 years old?
The Effects of Weathering • Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks and other substances at Earth’s surface Sierra Nevada Mtns. ~20 myo Appalachian Mtns. ~250 myo
Two Types of Weathering • Mechanical (physical) • Chemical
Two Types of Weathering • MechanicalWeathering • (also called physical weathering) • rock is physically broken into smaller pieces without changing what the rock is composed of
Two Types of Weathering • Mechanical Weathering • (also called physical weathering) • rock is physically broken into smaller pieces without changing what the rock is made of Examples: • Abrasion—grinding away of rock by other rock particles carried by water, ice, wind, or gravity
Two Types of Weathering • Mechanical Weathering • (also called physical weathering) • rock is physically broken into smaller pieces without changing what the rock is made of Examples: • Ice wedging—water freezes and expands, acting like a wedge that pushes open cracks in rocks
Two Types of Weathering • Mechanical Weathering • (also called physical weathering) • rock is physically broken into smaller pieces without changing what the rock is made of Examples: • Exfoliation—layers of rock crack and flake off when pressure is removed from the rock
Two Types of Weathering • Mechanical Weathering • (also called physical weathering) • rock is physically broken into smaller pieces without changing what the rock is made of Examples: • Plant growth—roots grow into cracks in rocks and pry cracks farther apart
Two Types of Weathering • Mechanical Weathering • (also called physical weathering) • rock is physically broken into smaller pieces without changing what the rock is made of Examples: • Animal action—animal burrowing breaks apart rocks in the soil
Two Types of Weathering • ChemicalWeathering • rocks are made of minerals • rock is broken down by chemically changing the minerals that makes up the rock into new minerals
Two Types of Weathering • ChemicalWeathering • rocks are made of minerals • rock is broken down by chemically changing the minerals that makes up the rock into new minerals Examples: • Water—water dissolves minerals in some rocks
Two Types of Weathering • ChemicalWeathering • rocks are made of minerals • rock is broken down by chemically changing the minerals that makes up the rock into new minerals Examples: • Oxidation—oxygen reacts with minerals (iron) in some rocks (“rusting”)
Two Types of Weathering • ChemicalWeathering • rocks are made of minerals • rock is broken down by chemically changing the minerals that makes up the rock into new minerals Examples: • Carbonic acid—carbon dioxide and water form carbonic acid which reacts with minerals (marble & limestone) in some rocks
Two Types of Weathering • ChemicalWeathering • rocks are made of minerals • rock is broken down by chemically changing the minerals that makes up the rock into new minerals Examples: • Living organisms— plant roots & lichens (plant-like organisms) produce weak acids that can dissolve some minerals in rocks
Two Types of Weathering • ChemicalWeathering • rocks are made of minerals • rock is broken down by chemically changing the minerals that makes up the rock into new minerals Examples: • Acid Rain—burning fossil fuels releases chemicals into the air that react with water to form acids which can dissolve rocks
Rate of Weathering • How fast rocks are broken down depends on: -Type of rock -Climate
Rate of Weathering • How fast rocks are broken down depends on: -Type of rock • some rocks are made of minerals that dissolve easier Example: limestone contains calcium that dissolves easily
Rate of Weathering • How fast rocks are broken down depends on: -Type of rock • some types of rock are permeable (they contain tiny holes that absorb water), so they weather faster Example: marble is more permeable than slate Slate 1856 Marble 1897
Rate of Weathering Egypt ~4500 yo • How fast rocks are broken down depends on: -Climate • Mechanical & chemical weathering occur faster in places that are wet (have more rain) Example: pyramids in Egypt have weathered slowly because of dryness of desert Mexico ~1800 yo
Rate of Weathering Connecticut • How fast rocks are broken down depends on: -Climate • chemical weathering occurs faster in places that are hot Example: granite weathers ten times faster in hot climates than cold Mojave Desert