Weathering is defined as the breakdown of rocks, soil, and minerals, as well as wood and

manmade materials when they come into touch with the Earth's atmosphere, water, and living
creatures. Weathering occurs in situ, that is, in the same location, with little or no movement.
There are two types of weathering processes:
1. Mechanical Weathering refers to chemically inert processes that wear away or break
down the physical structure of rock and stone. This can include processes that cause a
rock to be cracked or broken, such as when falling boulders collide and break apart.
Moreover, mechanical weathering also refers to the gradual erosion or smoothing of
rock surfaces as a result of exposure to the elements. Wedging is one of the most
common examples. This happens when a material finds its way into fractures or crevices
in rock and extends outward. This expands the cracks and holes and can cause the rock
to split apart; exposed brick may also be affected. Wedging is caused by water freezing,
salt crystallizing, and plant roots developing.

2. Chemical Weathering causes a rock's chemical composition to change, causing it to

degrade. All rocks are made up of minerals, as well as crystalline structures are made up
of essential elements. The components in these minerals can react with things in the
environment, such as water or oxygen, causing the mineral's chemical composition to
alter. We've undoubtedly seen a rusted piece of iron, for example. Iron develops soft
and brittle rust - iron oxide – when exposed to air, and this process is called oxidation.
Many minerals include iron, which is susceptible to oxidation. Also, minerals take water
into their structure during hydrolysis, making them less dense and hence more
susceptible to weathering.