Science

Frost Wedging (or freeze-thaw)

Click the card to flip 👆

1 / 11

Terms in this set (11)

Frost Wedging (or freeze-thaw)

When water seeps into open pores and cracks in rock, & then freezes, it expands.

Thermal Expansion & Contraction

Rocks that are exposed to daily heating & cooling will expand & contract as the temperature changes. (Heat causes expansion, & cooling causes contraction)

Biological Mechanical Weathering

(Physical Weathering) Ex:Tree roots that grow into the cracks of rocks will wedge & break the rocks apart.
(Mechanical Weathering) Ex: Mining & construction.

Exfoliation or unloading

To remove surface of (a bone, the skin, etc.)

Particles carried by wind, water, or ice cause the wearing down of exposed rock surfaces.

The pressure exerted by the growing salt crystals can cause rocks to break apart.

Chemical Weathering

Breaks down rocks by adding or removing chemical elements from minerals in the rocks.

Biological Chemical Weathering

Lichen and mosses produce a weak acid that may dissolve rocks & minerals.

The reaction of mineral ions with water ions forming new compounds.

Alters rocks by removing minerals that can dissolve in water, such as halite, calcite, or gypsum.