1. Weathering and Erosion
Weathering - processes at or near Earth’s surface that cause rocks and minerals to break down
Erosion - process of removing Earth materials from their original sites through weathering and transport

2. Weathering
Mechanical Weathering - processes that break a rock or mineral into smaller pieces without altering its composition
Chemical Weathering - processes that change the chemical composition of rocks and minerals

3. Agents of Mechanical Weathering
frost wedging
thermal expansion and contraction
mechanical exfoliation
abrasion by wind and water
plants and animals

4. Frost Wedging

5. Exfoliation

6. Dome Exfoliation

7. Plant Wedging

8. Processes of Chemical Weathering
dissolving (dissolution)
oxidation
hydrolysis

9. Factors in Chemical Weathering
climate
plants and animals
time
mineral composition

10. Limestone cave feature result of chemical weathering

11. Weathering and Erosion
Weathering produces regolith (“rock blanket”) which is composed of small rock and mineral fragments.
When organic matter is mixed in this material is called soil.

12. Transport Agents or Forces
Water
Wind
Gravity

13. Transport Agents - Water
Rain
Streams and rivers
Ocean dynamics
Ice (glaciers)

14. Streams

15. Stream Erosion and Deposition

16. Typical River Gravel

17. Glaciers

18. Wind Transport of Dust

19. Wind Transport of Dust

20. Deposition Formation

21. Deposition Formation