EXOGENIC

PROCESSES
WEATHERING, EROSION & MASS WASTING
 WEATHERING

PHYSICAL / MECHANICAL WEATHERING

Physical breakdown of a rock into unconnected grains or chunks without changing its composition

BLOCK DISINTEGRATION
-Caused by successive heating and cooling which
causes the expansion and contraction of rocks

-Block disintegration is common over well-

jointed granite in Hong Kong. In daytime, intense
solar heating causes rocks to expands. At night,
the temperature falls so rocks cool and contrast.
Repeated expansion and contraction produce
stress along joints. Joints are then widened and
deepened and finally break down the rocks block
by block.

EXFOLIATION
-Stripping of the outer layer of rocks
due to intense heating.

- You can see in the picture slabs of

rock cause by this weathering.

FROST
WEATHERING
-Alternate freezing and thawing of water inside
the joints of the rocks, causing them to split into
small particles or fragments.

-An example of a rock in which the freeze/thaw

cycle of water has enlarged existing fractures.

SALT CRYSTAL
GROWTH
-Force exerted by salt that formed as water
evaporates from pore spaces/ crack in rocks can
cause the rock to fall apart.

-The picture shows Marine abrasion of granite

preceded and facilitated by rock disintegration
through salt weathering in the surf zone (French
Mediterranean coast near St. Tropez).

coast near St. Tropez).

 ABARASION
-Wearing a way of rocks by constant collision of
loose particle

-The picture shows glacially abraded rocks in

western Norway near Jostedalsbreen glacier

CHEMICAL WEATHERING
Disintegration of rocks and the formation of new compound or new substance caused by chemical reactions.

OXIDATION

-process in which Oxygen reacts with the rock and

changes its mineral composition.

-The picture shows Oxidation taking place on

shale in Highland County

HYDROLYSI
S
-result of the absorption or combination of water and a
particular substance on the rock, leading to a change in
slope.

-The picture shows Spheroidal weathering by

hydrolysis, Holy Island, Anglesey

CARBONATI
ON
-process involving the formation of various types
of carbonates rocks.

-It occur in limestone and chalk regions where the

weak carbonic acid react with limestone or chalk
to form calcium hydrogen carbonate which
dissolve in water. The process of carbonation is
responsible for formation of surface and
subterranean limestone features in karst region.
 DISSOLUTIO
N
-process of the minerals in rocks are directly
dissolved in water

-Dissolution is the most easily observed kind of

chemical weathering. Over time, the action of slightly
acidic solutions on the rock can leave pits and holes,
and it can act to slowly enlarge and widen preexisting
fractures. On a large scale, dissolution can result in a
very distinct type of topography- karst topography.
Such areas can feature sinkholes, springs, caves,
caverns and other features related to the dissolution
of underlying bedrock.
HYDRATION
-occurs when water is absorbed into the crystal structure of
the mineral causing the minerals crystals to change in
structure, soften, and easily crumble.

- Hydration often produces a new mineral compound that is

larger than the original compound. The increased size
expanse the rock and can lead to decay. Hydration can also
lead to color changes in the weathered rock surface. An
example of hydrolosis: Anhydrite (CaSO4) can absorb two
water molecules to become gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O).

BIOTIC/ BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING

Weathering and disintegration of rocks caused by living organism.

ANIMAL

-Burrowing animals such as moles, squirrels and rabbits

can speed up the development of fissures. Many animals
such as the Piddock shells drill into rocks for protection
either by releasing acids to dissolve the rocks or
fragment away the rock grains. These animal activities
can create fissures in the rocks and also eats away the
rock’s minerals.

-As this process continues, gaps and holes develop

within the rock, further exposing the rocks to chemical,
biological and physical weathering. Burrowing animals
can as well move the broken rock pieces to the surface
and so indirectly increasing the processes of rock
weathering.
PLANT

-The roots of plants and trees penetrate into the soil in

search of nutrients and water. As the roots penetrate the
soil, they go through cracks or joints in the rocks and as
they grow they progressively crack the rock apart. Bigger
growing roots can also exert pressure on the adjacent
rocks. Some plant roots also emit organic acids that aid
to dissolve the rock’s minerals.
 HUMAN

-Human activities equally dig, crash, and widen the

cracks and wind up fragmenting the rocks apart. These
activities include mining, road construction, and housing
developments.

FACTORS AFFECTING WEATHERING

CLIMATE
-mechanical weathering happens in areas that are cold
and dry; chemical weathering happens in areas with high
temperature

ROCK TYPE

-the minerals that constitute rocks have different

susceptibilities to weathering

ROCK
STRUCTURES
-affected by the presence of joints, folds, faults, bedding
planes through which agents of weathering enter a rock
mass.

TOPOGRAPHY
-.occurs more quickly on a steep slope than on a gentle
one.

TIME

-length of exposure to agents of weathering determines

the degree of weathering of rock.