GEOL 1001 Chapter : Weathering
Document Summary
Weathering: weathering = physical breakdown and chemical alteration of earth materials at or near the surface. Exposed to the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere: parent material = rock being weathered. Mineral alteration or dissolution: erosion = transport of weathered materials or sediments from their place of origin. Wind: sediments (disaggregated materials): most common material on earth"s surface and shallow subsurface. Cover 2/3rds of continents and all of seafloor: except spreading ridges. Preserve evidence of processes responsible for their formation: preserve fossils. Useful in deciphering earth"s history: weathering takes place on or near the surface. Surface not structurally or compositionally uniform: differential weathering: weathering rates are different even in same area.
