WEATHERING
Mechanical & Chemical
VOCABULARY:
 weathering- the process by which natural forces break down rocks
 mechanical weathering- the breaking up of rocks by physical forces (ice, roots, abrasion)
 exfoliation- a process in which layers or sheets of rock gradually break off
 abrasion- the process of wearing down by friction, the rubbing of one object or surface against another.
 chemical weathering-the breakdown of rocks by chemical reactions that change the rocks’ makeup, or
composition.
Weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces.
THINK: Imagine the tiniest rock you have ever found. How did it get so small? It didn’t start
out that way! What forces created this rock?
 2 types of weathering: Mechanical and Chemical
Mechanical weathering produces physical changes in rocks.
 In the natural process of Mechanical Weathering, physical forces split rocks apart but
do not change their composition (like smashing a walnut).
 Ice Wedging, Pressure Release, Plant Root Growth, and Abrasion can all cause
mechanical weathering.
Type of Mechanical
Weathering
Explanations
Ice Wedging
Water freezes in the cracks of rocks and expands.
The force of expansion is strong enough to split the
rocks apart. This process can break up huge
boulders. It is common in our area.
Pressure release
Earth’s forces can push rock that formed deep
underground up to the surface. The pressure inside
the rock is still high, and the pressure on the surface
is released. This causes the rock to expand and
crack. This leads to exfoliation.
Illustrations
Plant root growth
Trees, bushes and other plants may take root in
cracks in rocks. As the roots grow, they wedge the
rocks open. Large rocks can be split by roots.
Abrasion
Water wears down rocks on riverbeds and along
shorelines by abrasion. The force of moving water
alone causes this. Water also causes rocks to
tumble downstream. Tumbling rocks wear away as
they grind against other rocks. Ocean waves beating
the shorelines also cause abrasion.
Chemical weathering changes the mineral composition of rocks.
 Minerals in rocks undergo chemical changes when they react with water and air.
 Water is the main cause of chemical weathering.
 In the atmosphere, small amounts of Carbon Dioxide dissolve in rainwater. The water
and carbon dioxide react to form a weak acid. After falling, the water moves through
the soil picking up additional carbon dioxide from decaying plants. This acid water
breaks down minerals in rocks, and may break them apart.
 Air Pollution from cars and power plants can make rainwater even more acidic.
Rusting
 Oxygen is also involved in chemical weathering.
 Oxygen, water, and dissolved minerals containing iron produce iron oxides, or rust.
 Iron oxides form a coating that colors weathered rocks.
Weathering occurs at different rates.
 Most weathering occurs over long periods of time- hundreds, thousands, or even
millions of years.
 It takes hundreds or thousands of years for a very hard rock to wear down just a few
millimeters (the thickness of your fingernail).

Not all rocks wear at the same rate. Factors affecting the rate of weathering include:
the rock’s size (surface area), the composition (granite vs. limestone) and the climate
that the rock is in (hot, wet regions weather rocks faster than cold, dry ones).