WEATHERING

WEATHERING
Weathering is the process where rocks, soils and minerals as well as any artificial materials
exposed to the Earth's atmosphere undergo changes in character and breaking down into
smaller pieces.
So, weathering is the disintegration and decomposition of rocks in situ or with no movement.

Three important classifications of weathering processes exist –

1. Physical or mechanical weathering processes and that causes following changes:
 Breaks rocks and soils into smaller pieces
 Does not change chemical makeup
 Causes physical disintegration only
2. Chemical weathering processes and that causes following changes:
 Changes chemical composition of minerals/rocks
 Ongoing process as the mineralogy of the rock adjusts to the near surface
environment
 Alters rocks that are unstable at Earth’s surface to more stable substances (new
chemical compounds and minerals are formed)

3. Organic weathering processes and that causes following changes:

 The roots of plants cause rocks to break up and disintegrate
 Weathering through release of acidic compounds from plants root and living
organisms
 Organic weathering processes may contribute to physical weathering as well as
chemical weathering
Processes and Agents of Physical Weathering
Physical weathering can occur due to thermal stress or temperature change, pressure
release, frost or freeze-thaw weathering, water, ice, wind, plant roots, physical action of
burrowing animals etc.
i. Thermal stress or temperature change
Thermal stress weathering results from the expansion and contraction of rock, caused by
temperature changes. For example, heating of rocks by sunlight or fires can cause
expansion of their constituent minerals. As some minerals expand more than others,
temperature changes set up differential stresses that eventually cause the rock to crack
apart.
ii. Freeze-thaw weathering
Freeze-thaw weathering occurs when the temperature keeps fluctuating above and
below 0°C. So, Freeze-thaw weathering action occurs mainly in environments where
there is a lot of moisture, and temperatures frequently fluctuate above and below
freezing point. Water expands about 9% when it freezes, which can cause considerable
stress on anything containing the water as it freezes and can break it down.

iii. Pressure release

In pressure release, also known as unloading, overlying materials are removed (by
erosion, or other processes), which causes underlying rocks to expand and fracture
parallel to the surface.
iv. Salt-crystal growth
Salt crystallization, otherwise known as haloclasty,
causes disintegration of rocks when saline solutions
seep into cracks and joints in the rocks and evaporate,
leaving salt crystals behind. These salt crystals expand
as they are heated up, exerting pressure on the confining
rock.
v. Organic effects on physical weathering
Lichens and mosses grow on essentially bare rock
surfaces and create a more humid chemical
microenvironment. The attachment of these organisms
to the rock surface enhances physical as well as
chemical breakdown of the surface micro-layer of the
rock.
On a larger scale, plant roots exert physical pressure as
well as providing a pathway for water and chemical
infiltration.
Processes and Agents of Chemical weathering:
Chemical weathering changes the composition of rocks, often transforming them when water interacts
with minerals to create various chemical reactions. Chemical weathering is a gradual and ongoing
process as the mineralogy of the rock adjusts to the near surface environment. In this the processes of
dissolution and carbonation, oxidation and hydration, and hydrolysis are most important.
i. Dissolution and Carbonation
Rainfall is acidic because atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in the rain water producing weak
carbonic acid. In unpolluted environments, the rainfall pH is around 5.6. Acid rain occurs when gases
such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are present in the atmosphere. These oxides react in the
rain water to produce stronger acids and can lower the pH to 4.5 or even 3.0. Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
comes from volcanic eruptions or from fossil fuels, can become sulfuric acid (H2SO4) within
rainwater, which can cause solution weathering to the rocks on which it falls.
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3
carbon dioxide + water → carbonic acid
H2CO3 + CaCO3 → Ca(HCO3)2
carbonic acid + calcium carbonate → calcium bicarbonate
ii. Oxidation
Within the weathering environment chemical oxidation of a variety of
metals occurs. The most commonly observed is the oxidation of Fe2+
(iron) and combination with oxygen and water to form Fe3+
hydroxides and oxides such as limonite, and hematite. Which give the
affected rocks a reddish-brown coloration on the surface which
crumbles easily and weakens the rock.

iii. Hydration and Hydrolysis

Mineral hydration is a form of chemical weathering that involves the rigid attachment of
H+ and OH- ions to the atoms and molecules of a mineral. When rock minerals combine
with water, the increased volume creates physical stresses within the rock. Hydrolysis is a
chemical weathering process affecting silicate and carbonate minerals. In such reactions,
pure water ionizes slightly and reacts with silicate minerals. This reaction theoretically
results in complete dissolution of the original mineral, if enough water is available to drive
the reaction.
iv. Organic effects on chemical weathering
Chemical weathering is enhanced by biological agents as the acids produced by
microbial and plant-root metabolism.
The most common forms of biological weathering are the release of chelating
compounds (i.e. organic acids, siderophores- strongest soluble Fe3+ binding agents)
and of acidifying molecules (i.e. protons, organic acids) by plants so as to break down
aluminium and iron containing compounds in the soils beneath them.
Decaying dead plants in soil may form organic acids which, when dissolved in water,
cause chemical weathering.
“Chelation: A type of bonding of ions and molecules to metal ions”
Factors Affecting Weathering
Weathering does not occur at same rate everywhere. There are several factors which can
affect the weathering processes.
Climate: Heat, humidity increases chemical weathering. Heat causes chemical reactions
to occur faster. Most chemical weathering needs rainfall. Chemical weathering occurs
fastest where it is warm and there is a lot of rainfall.

Physical weathering occurs fastest in places where temperatures rapidly fluctuate over a
short time. Warmer water, increased plant growth and accelerate physical weathering.

Living organisms: Surface exposure increases the breakdown. On average earth worm
colony brings 7-18 tons of soil per acre to surface each year.

Time: Rock must be exposed; if not, more time required for weathering.

Mineral composition: Minerals formed at high temperatures/pressures are not stable at

Earth’s surface.