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Geology - Types of Weathering
Exam 2
19
Geology
Undergraduate 1
03/06/2013

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Term
Weathering
Definition
refers to the destructive processes on the surface of the earth that change the physical and chemical character of rocks.
Term
Mechanical Weathering
Definition
Physical disintegration of rocks by abrasion, impact, etc.
Term
Frost Wedging
Definition
Water seeps into fractures and expands wen it freezes. A type of Mechanical Weathering.
Term
Thermal Cycling
Definition
Large temperature variations break rocks with repeated expansion and contraction. A type of Mechanical Weathering.
Term
Plant Growth
Definition
Growing roots widen fractures in rock.
Term
Sheet Joints
Definition
Form in intrusive rocks (e.g. granites, diorites)with the remoal of overlying rock through erosion, the resulting decrease in pressure allows expansion of the underlying rocks and fractures.
Term
Chemical Weathering
Definition
Decomposition of rock from exposure to atmospheric gases (oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide) or liquid.
Term
Erosion
Definition
Is the physical removal of rock particles and soils by moving water, wind, or glacial ice.
Term
Transportation
Definition
Is the movement of eroded particles and soils by moving water, wind or glacial ice; Weathering processes continue during transportation.
Term
Mass Wasting
Definition
Is the transfer of rock soil down slope under the influence of gravity.
Term
Karst Tpography
Definition
Dissolution of limestone bedrock over time and related topographic and underground features.
Term
Speleothems
Definition
Cave formations. Formed by the slow deposition, drip by drip, of calcite from infiltrating groundwater.
Term
Hydrolysis
Definition
Dissolution of feldspar's to form clay's
Term
Caverns and caves are the result of..
Definition
dissolution of limestone underground.
Term
Chemical weathering of feldspar's is the main source of...
Definition
clay minerals such as kaolinite, illmentite, bentonite and montmorillinite. It proceeds more slowly than the dissolution of calcite.
Term
pH
Definition
of natural waters can have a strong effect on the chemical weathering of some earth materials. Is a measure of the activity of hydrogen ion in a solution. Hydrogen ion activity is dictated by the dissociation of water and interactions with other ions in solution.
Term
pH Scale
Definition
Ranges from 0-14. 7 is neutral; 0-7 is an acid solution; 7-14 is a base solution.
Term
Spheroidal Weathering
Definition
results as weathering is concentrated along joints and their intersections within the rock, and erosion of the less consolidated weathered "rind' leaves behind rounded pieces of unweathered bedrock.
Term
Differential Weathering
Definition
rocks weather at different rates and in different ways. Rocks may be more or less susceptible to weathering because of such things as composition or induration, the hardening of a rock through processes like increased temperature of formation, pressure of formation or cementation of particles by precipitated minerals.
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