Products of weathering

1) loss of atoms or compounds from weathered surface

2) addition of atoms or compounds to weathered surface
3) breakdown of one mass in to two or more masses w/o chemical change in mineral or rock
Chemical Weathering alteration of chemical and mineralogical composition of material
- hydrolysis= water and compound meet. Water ions react with mineral ions
- oxidation = compounds react with oxygen. Compounds become less rigid Reduction =
opposite of oxidation
- Hydration = H+ or OH- ions attach to compound. Result is accelerated decomposition
because crystal shape created increases surface area
- Carbonation= carbonate and bicarbonate reacts with minerals
Physical Weathering  breakdown of mineral or rock by mechanical methods
- abrasion
- Crystallization
o Volume change from liquid to solid
o Insolation weathering – rocks can’t conduct heat well so different rates of
expansion and contraction
o Note: dark= faster expansion than light
- Thermal insolation
- Wetting and drying
o Also called slaking
o Layers of water build up inbetween the mineral grains of rock
- Pressure release
o Igneous or other rocks from deep in the earth fracture when coming closer to the
surface because of decreasing pressure
Biological weatheringdue to chemical/physical agents of organism
1) consumption of soil by animals = simple breaking of particles (burrowing or roots
growing)
2) Movement and mixing (large soil organisms cause soil to move)
3) Solution enhanced by CO2 produced by respiration
4) Chemical effects of chelation organisms produce organic substances (chelates) that
decompose minerals from rocks
5) Affect moisture. Ex. Shade from aerial leaves, presence of roots, humus
6) Influence pH

EROSION
 Requires a medium to move material
3 processes
1) Detachment
a. Plucking – ice freezes in cracks or other areas and pulls/pushes rock apart
b. Cavitation- surface collapse of air bubbles in rapid flows of water
c. Rain drop impact – force of raindrops falling onto surface
d. abrasion
2) Entrainment
a. particle lifting by agent of erosion. Frictional resistance develops with surroundings. Must
overcome gravity and other cohesive bonds
3) Transport
a. fluid drag- particle moves because of horizontal force and vertical lift
critical entrainment velocity curve (see hjoldstrom diagram)
Hillslopes and Mass Movement

Process-response system  receives imputs of solar radiation, precipitation, solid/dissolved

substance from atmosphere, unconsolidated sediment from weathering.

Rates of weathering influenced by moisture.

Mass Movement/Mass Wasting = materials moved through hill slope system

• Relies on unstable hill system
• Occurs when stress exceeds stress
• Rapid and sudden – usually when stress greatly exceeds strength for a short period of
time

Gravitational force (calculated by F= W sinθ) θ= slope angle W = weight of material on slope

Factors affecting strength

• Particle cohesion vs. loose with frictional resistence
• Arrangement of particles
• Moisture  most common reason for rockslide (prolonged or heavy rainfall)
o Saturation = heavier = more gravitational force
o Reduces cohesiveness
o Bedding planes in hill slope have plane below ground level slide along surface

Types of movement
• Rainsplash – impact of droplets on soil that detaches sediments. When slope is more
than 25 degrees material is redistributed almost entirely down slope
• Rainwash/Surface runoff. Sheetwash = relatively flat surface, runoff is a continuous
layer  can’t entrain surface particles. Sheetwash becomes rills then significant transport
can happen

Shallow Sliding occurs when planes of weakness occur beneath surface.

Debris Flow large downslope movements of shallow coarse soil on top of bedrock
Rotational Slip (slump) occur over defined planes of weakness. Concave beneath surface.
Usually caused by erosion at base which reduces support for overlying sediment. The erosion can
be caused by a stream or by wave action.
Mudflow slope is saturated and cohesive nature of particles is lost. Flows like thick fluid.
Stops when water is lost due to seepage. Can occur over low sloe angles because little friction.
Soil Creep Movement of slope sediments in cyclical steps of temperature fluctuations,
moisture variations, gravity on inclined soil sediments.
Solifluction slow movement of soil caused by freeze-thaw action. Often occurs in areas with
permafrost. Waterlogged surface on top when ice melts but deep ice prevents drainage.
Rock Slide large scale downslope movement of rock along joints (fracture in a rock when no
movement has taken place perpendicular to surface of fracture- increases exposed surface area) or
bedding planes (layer in a series of sedimentary beds).
Regolith products of weathering that lie on the bedrock surface. Can be altered by climate,
organisms, topography. Creates soil.
Periglacial Landforms sub polar regions. Collectively known as patterned ground. Surface
features resemble circles, polygons, nets, steps, stripes. Outlines consist of elevated regolith
fragments. Possibly formed from sorting by freeze thaw action. Larger fragments move vertically
up and horizontally out. Keeps moving until contacts another feature. Forms net-like patterns