Activity Sheet in Earth Science

Reading:
WEATHERING
Weathering is the process of breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface, by the action of
water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, gravity and changing temperatures. There are
three types of weathering: physical weathering, chemical weathering, and biological
weathering.
Agents of Weathering
1. Water
Either in liquid or solid form is one of the agents of mechanical weathering. In liquid
form, it seeped into cracks and crevices of rocks and when the temperature dropped, it
freezes and definitely will expand in the form of ice. The ice then works as a wedge
which slowly widens the cracks and splits the rock. When the ice melts, the liquid water
performs the act of erosion by carrying away the tiny rock fragments lost in the split.
2. Salt
In the process of haloclasty, salts served as an agent of weathering. Saltwater
sometimes gets into the cracks and pores of rock. When it evaporates, salt crystals are
left behind and grow in the cracks and pores which caused pressure on the rock and
slowly break it apart.
3. Temperature
Temperature changes can also contribute to weathering through the process called
thermal stress. During thermal stress, rock tend to expand with heat and contract with
low temperature. As this happens repeatedly, the structure of the rock weakens and
over time crumbles.
4. Plants
Plants also served as agents of weathering. Its contribution take place when the seed of
a tree being spread in the environment sprout in soil that has collected in a cracked
rock. As the roots grow, they widen the cracks, eventually breaking the rock into pieces.
Over time, trees can break apart even large rocks. Even small plants, such as mosses,
can enlarge tiny cracks as they grow.
5. Animals
Animals that tunnel underground, such as moles and prairie dogs, also work to break
apart rock and soil. Other animals dig and trample rock aboveground, causing rock to
slowly crumble.
Types of Weathering
A. Physical Weathering
Physical weathering is caused by the effects of changing temperatures on rocks,
causing the rock to break apart. The process is sometimes assisted by water. It
happens especially in places where there is little soil and few plants grow, such as in
mountain regions and hot deserts. It occurs either through repeated melting and
freezing of water (mountains and tundra) or through expansion and contraction of the
surface layer of rocks that are baked by the sun (hot deserts). There are two main types
of physical weathering:
1. Abrasion. It occurs when rocks surface is frequently exposed to water, wind and
gravity.
2. Freeze-thaw. It occurs when water continually seeps into cracks, freezes and
expands, eventually breaking the rock apart. It occurs in mountainous regions like the
Alps or Snowdonia. It occurs through the following process: Rainwater or snow- melt
collects in cracks in the rocks→ at night the temperature drops and the water freezes
and expands→ the increases in volume of the ice exerts pressure on the cracks in the
rock, causing them to split further open→ during the day the ice melts and the water
seeps deeper into the cracks → at night, the water freezes again.
3. Exfoliation. It can happen as cracks develop parallel to the land surface as a
consequence of the reduction in pressure during uplift and erosion. It occurs typically in
upland areas where there are exposures of uniform coarsely crystalline igneous rocks.
The following are the process of exfoliation. The rock mass at depth is under high
pressure from underlying rocks. It tends to be uniform and lack fractures. → As
progressive erosion occurs, the rock mass is subjected to progressively lower pressure
of overlying rocks which leads to tension in directions at right angles to the land surface
→ this tension is relieved by formation of cracks which follow the land surface. They are
relatively flat on plateaus but can be steep on the flanks of mountains which are called
exfoliation domes → once the crack is developed; water enters and causes chemical
weathering leading to the formation of new low- density minerals. This enhances the
cracks and encourages slabs of rock to detach from the surface.
B. Chemical Weathering
Chemical weathering is caused by rainwater reacting with the mineral grains in rocks to
form new minerals (clays) and soluble salts. These reactions occur particularly when the
water is slightly acidic. These chemical processes need water, and occur more rapidly
at higher temperature, so warm, damp climates are best. Chemical weathering
(especially hydrolysis and oxidation) is the first stage in the production of soils.
There are different types of chemical weathering, the most important are:
1. Carbonation – carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in rainwater and becomes weakly
acidic. This weak “carbonic acid” can dissolve limestone as it seeps into cracks and
cavities. Over many years, solution of the rock can form spectacular cave systems.
2. Hydrolysis – the breakdown of rock by acidic water to produce clay and soluble
salts. Hydrolysis takes place when acid rain reacts with rock-forming minerals such as
feldspar to produce clay and salts that are removed in solution. The only common rock-
forming mineral that is not affected is quartz, which is a chemically resistant mineral.
Therefore, quartz and clay are the two of the most common minerals in sedimentary
rocks.
3. Hydration – a type of chemical weathering where water reacts chemically with the
rocks, modifying its chemical structure. Example: H2O (water) is added to CaSO4
(calcium sulfate) to create CaSO4 + 2H2O (calcium sulfate dihydrate). It changes from
anhydrite to gypsum.
4. Oxidation – the breakdown of rock by oxygen and water, often giving iron- rich rocks
a rusty-colored weathered surface.

Tasks
Directions. Together with your previous pair, write your all your outputs in clean sheets
of paper.
I. Directions. Answer the questions previously presented during our class in writing.
II. Directions. Write C if the statement is correct and I if the statement is incorrect. Write
your answers in a separate sheet of paper.
1. Gravity is one of the agents of weathering.
2. Exfoliation occurs when water continually seeps into cracks, freezes and expands
eventually breaking the rock apart.
3. Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide dissolved in water makes acid and reacts
with rocks.
4. Burrowing animals cannot contribute on weathering of rocks.
5. Hydrolysis takes place when acid rain reacts with rock-forming minerals such as
feldspar to produce clay and salts that are removed in solution.
6. Animals produce acidic compounds that can cause rock disintegration.
7. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide when mix with water produces basic substance that
can break down rocks’ components.
8. Humans indirectly contribute on weathering.
9. Water alters chemical components of rocks that cause weathering.
10. Earthworms are physical weathering agent.
III. Directions. Group the following statements as to Physical or Chemical Weathering
by writing them down on the table provided below. Do this on your answer sheet.
________ 1. Balete tree grows at the wall of the building.
________ 2. Construction workers use power tools to break the rocks.
________ 3. Insects secrete acidic substance on rocks.
________ 4. Glaciers carve its pathways.
_______ 5. Rainwater combined with iron on rocks produces rusts.
________ 6. Carbon dioxide mix with water produces carbonic acid that reacts with
rocks.
________ 7. Water freezes in a large crack of a rock.
________ 8. Strong winds blow small particles of the rocks.
________ 9. Rocks form bubbles after the heavy pour of acid rain.
________ 10. Rocks fall down from the mountain and break.
IV. Directions. Fill in the table with correct information on mass wasting.
Type of Description Illustration
Mass
Wasting
Fall

Toppled

Slump

Slide

Flow