Mechanical Weathering

Mechanical weathering is the process of breaking big rocks into

little ones. This process usually happens near the surface of the
planet. Temperature also affects the land. The cool nights and
hot days always cause things to expand and contract. That
movement can cause rocks to crack and break apart. Roots and
plants also push into the rocks and break them apart. They act
like wedges and push the rocks apart. Little animals also help
by burrowing and digging through the ground.

Scientists have observed a process called freeze-thaw. That

process occurs when the water inside of rocks freezes and
expands. That expansion cracks the rocks from the inside and
eventually breaks them apart. The freeze-thaw cycle happens
over and over again and the break finally happens. Another
word for it is frost wedging. There are already some small
cracks in boulders and water can get in the cracks. When that
water expands, the rock is crunched between two expanding
pieces of ice instead of being forced apart into separate pieces.

Another type of mechanical weathering is called salt wedging.

When it rains and water flows everywhere, it usually has ions
and salts dissolved inside. Have you seen salt water dry up?
Salt crystals are left over. Those crystals happen in nature, too.
The water flows in a rock and evaporates. Crystals slowly begin
to grow. Those crystals act like a wedge and crack the rocks.

Chemical Weathering

Chemical weathering includes the effect of weathering on

molecules and atoms. As with all chemistry, the greater the
surface area of an object, the more chemical reactions can take
place. For these chemical reactions to happen in nature,
moisture, and heat must be present.
Reactions such as oxidation, hydrolysis,
and acidification can happen when all of the elements are
together. Oxidation makes rocks softer. It is similar to an iron
bar rusting. Since there is a lot of iron in many rocks, oxidation
often happens. Hydrolysis usually causes rocks to expand and
then mechanical weathering can begin. These chemical
reactions are happening all of the time. When you see rocks
next to each other that are different colors (often shades of
red) then you know chemical reactions have taken place.

Biological Weathering

Biological weathering would include the effect of animals and

plants on the landscape. This is more than roots digging in and
wedging rocks. Biological weathering is the actual molecular
breakdown of minerals. There are things
called lichens (combinations of fungi and algae) which live on
rocks. Lichens slowly eat away at the surface of rocks. The
amount of biological activity that breaks down minerals
depends on how much life is in that area. You might find more
activities like lichens near oceans where the air is humid and
cooler.

Soil: A product of Weathering

There are multiple forms of physical weathering that contribute

to soil formation. Wind can blow sand and other debris against
rocks and wear them away. Constantly flowing water can also
slowly erode at rocks over time although, this will not create
soil in that specific area, but usually downstream and in the
bodies of water were rivers empty. Also, constant freezing and
unfreezing of water in small cracks within rocks can break them
down. As those cracks get bigger, plants can start to grow and
their roots will break the rocks up further.
An example is respiration of carbon dioxide by plant roots can
lead to the formation of carbonic acid which can chemically
attack rocks and sediments and help to turn them into soils.
There are a whole range of weathering processes at work
near the surface of the soil, acting together to break down
rocks and minerals to form soil. Physical weathering or erosion
breaks down rocks into sand, silt and clay: the components of
soil.
Chemical weather chemically alters the minerals in the rocks
contributing to physical weathering and allowing important
chemical factors into the soil such as potassium, phosphorus,
and calcium.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

MINING: The environmental impact of

mining includes erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss
of biodiversity, and contamination of
soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals
from mining processes. In some cases, additional forest logging
is done in the vicinity of mines to increase the gold volume for
the sick and room for the storage of the created debris and
soil.[1] Besides creating environmental damage, the
contamination resulting from leakage of chemicals also affect
the health of the local population.[2] Mining companies in some
countries are required to follow environmental and
rehabilitation codes, ensuring the area mined is returned close
to its original state. Some mining methods may have significant
environmental and public health effects. Nuss and Eckelman
(2014)[3] provide an overview of the life-cycle wide
environmental impacts of metals production associated with 62
metals in year 2008.
Erosion of exposed hillsides, mine dumps, tailings dams and
resultant siltation of drainages, creeks and rivers can
significantly impact the surrounding areas, a prime example
being the giant Ok Tedi Mine in Papua New Guinea. In areas of
wilderness mining may cause destruction and disturbance
of ecosystems and habitats, and in areas of farming it may
disturb or destroy productive grazing and croplands. In
urbanised environments mining may produce noise pollution,
dust pollution and visual pollution.

FOREST DENUDATION: First of all the soil would be eroded due

to lack of tree cover. Animal life would be stressed and many
species would be displaced. Animals like deer and birds would
lose cover and a food supply. New invasive species would enter
the area in an effort to colonize it. Grasses and weeds would
take hold and then give way to small shrubs and bushes.
Eventually smaller tree types would come in and after a period
of 10 years the original tree types might take hold and grow.
This is called ecological succession.
Illegal loggers engage in illegal logging where in trees are cut
big or small without replacing them. Kaingin farming is also
there to add more to forest denudation. Forests are clean to be
planted, turned to residential and commercial purposes, and
some are left denuded just to suffice our needs. Natural
calamities also can be factors of denuding mountains and
forests. Theyre capable of destroying forest cover and bring
damages to our surroundings.
These things all contribute to forest denudation which
may resort to searing and irreversible long term sufferings.
Terrific landslides, lack of fresh underground water may occur.
Great flashfloods may also affect us every now and then. The
worst is we may have the warmest and hottest climate during
sunny days. All these things will surely make life in earth very
hard. Plants, animals, and human beings will be affected as
well.
Now that we are aware of its consequences are we
really bound to let this things continue? The answer is No its
not too late. Lets join hands together and have one goal in life
and that is to put an end to forest denudation. Go out and
move and start planting a tree for the goal of our future. Say
NO to Forest Denudation but a big YES to REFORESTATION.

SOURCES
http://cynthialmoya.blogspot.com/2011/11/forestdenudation-and-its-effects.html

http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2016/finalwebsit
e/problems/mining.html

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?
qid=20090803115928AAs6XCR

http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_soil.html

https://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?
qid=20080122195341AAdzZ94

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?
qid=20090803115928AAs6XCR

http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/eens1110/weathe
ring.htm