 Mechanical  Chemical  Biological  Rocks eventually form sediment  Rocks - stationary

DefinitionMechanisms  Produces finer particles by fracturing rock  Mineral composition remains the same  Abrasion (grinding)  Crystallization (frost shattering)  Thermal fracturing (rapid heat change)  Hydration (Expansion of water)  Exfoliation (pressure release jointing)

DefinitionProcesses  Chemical reactions transform rocks and minerals into new chemical combinations that are stable under prevailing conditions at or near the Earth's surface.  Rock disintegrates  Hydrolysis & Hydration (involve water)  Oxidation & Reduction (combines with O or loss of O)  Solution/Dissolution (carbonates & carbon dioxides combine with form carbonic acid) ◦ CO 2 + H 2 O = H 2 CO 3

Chemical weathering  Not all minerals are prone to chemical weathering  Faster in warmer climates  Heat  Water

DefinitionPhoto Examples  Biological weathering can be considered special types of mechanical or chemical weathering  Action of living organism  Plants & Animals  Bacteria, algae and lichens  Secrete acids, chemicals

DefinitionAgents Removal and movement of earth materials by natural agents. Some of these agents include glaciers, wind, water, earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, mud flows, and avalanches.  Water  Wind  Glaciers

Chandeleur Islands

 Weathering  2 processes  No movement  Mass Wasting  Movement of rock particle – gravity  Erosion  Flowing Agent

 Splash erosion  Sheet erosion  Fluvial erosion  Waves  Glacial erosion  Abrasion  Plucking

Waves in oceans and other large bodies of water cause coastal erosion. The power of ocean waves is awesome; large storm waves can produce 2000 pounds of pressure per square foot. The pure energy of waves along with the chemical content of the water is what erodes the rock of the coastline. Aeolian Erosion

Wave action in Calvert County Maryland

 Aeolian Erosion – Wind erosion, sand dunes

 Effects of mechanical weathering   Effects of chemical weathering   Landscape formed by erosion   Sediment transfer – flowing water   Channels in meandering river   Waterfalls and chasms  apter_no=visualization apter_no=visualization  Glacial erosion of bedrock   Example of wave erosion ◦