Examples of Types of Weathering

Any process that weakens and breaks apart rocks without changing the chemical makeup of the rock.

• physical weathering

• chemical weathering

• oxidation

• chemical reaction

Any process that weakens and breaks apart rock by chemically changing them into different substances.

• physical weathering

• chemical weathering

• root pry

• ice wedging

As roots of plants grown, they cause rocks to split.

• ice wedging

• root pry

• chemical weathering

• exfoliation

Burrowing organisms loosen soil and rock, and push it to the surface to be weathered by additional processes.

• root pry

• abrasion

• carbonic acid action

• mechanical weathering by animals

As water freezes and expands, then thaws, forces on rocks continuously change, causing them stress. This weakens the rock over time.

• abrasion

• ice wedging

• acid rain

• oxidation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Rock is dissolved very slowly by acids produced by lichens and moss, which don't have true roots. This releases nutrients from the rock itself to nourish the plant.

• weak acids

• abrasion

• oxidation

• exfoliation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Rainwater has a pH below 7 due to the presence of carbon dioxide. This tends to break down rocks, especially those made of calcite, limestone, and marble. This is an example of

• carbonic acid action

• oxidative action

• abrasion

• hydration

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Rocks that are high in iron slowly turn yellowish, or orange-brown, when they're exposed to naturally occurring gases in the air, which weakens the rock over time as a new substance is formed.

• oxidation

• hydration

• acidification

• wedging

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

As pressure is released from above (such as a melting glacier), or increased from below (such as the rising of magma), the surface layers of some rocks tend to break off in sheets.

• abrasion

• gravity

• exfoliation

• acidification

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Rocks that are constantly submerged in water will weaken and break down over time due to chemical changes. This is called

• hydration

• abrasion

• oxidation

• neutralization

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-5