Table of Contents
What is differential weathering and erosion?
Differential weathering and differential erosion are often, jokingly, the default explanations for odd-looking rocks or geologic scenery. Differential weathering and differential erosion refer to hard, resistant rocks & minerals weathering and eroding more slowly that softer, less-resistant rocks & minerals.
How is differential weathering caused?
A spherically weathered boulder forms when the corners of an angular rock are broken down more quickly than the flat surfaces, forming rounded shapes. Differential weathering results when some rocks resist weathering more than other rocks, creating uneven rates of weathering and erosion.
What is differential erosion?
Erosion that occurs at irregular or varying rates, caused by the differences in the resistance and hardness of surface materials: softer and weaker rocks are rapidly worn away, whereas harder and more resistant rocks remain to form ridges, hills, or mountains.
What is weathering differentiate the three types of weathering?
Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface, by the action of rainwater, extremes of temperature, and biological activity. It does not involve the removal of rock material. There are three types of weathering, physical, chemical and biological.
Where does differential weathering occur?
For example, feldspar is far more reactive than quartz. Differential weathering occurs when some parts of a rock weather at different rates than others. Excellent examples of differential weathering occur in the Idavada silicic volcanic rocks in the Snake River Plains.
What is hydrolysis weathering?
There are different types of chemical weathering. Hydrolysis is the chemical breakdown of a substance when combined with water. The most common example of hydrolysis is feldspar in granite rocks changing to clay. Oxidation is the reaction of a substance with oxygen.
What controls the differential weathering?
Cap rocks protect weaker layers below from erosion. Other examples of differential weathering are Devil’s Tower, Wyoming and weathering forms controlled by jointing. The joints or breaks in the rock give weathering a head start… the increased surface area in the joints lead to accelerated weathering along the joints.
Why does differential erosion occur?
Headland and Bay This is called differential erosion. The erosion occurs due to a number of different processes caused by the sea. Hydraulic action is when the waves smash against the coastline and the force of the water causes the coastline to be eroded. The coastline can also be eroded due to chemical erosion.
What are the erosional landforms?
Caves, arches, stacks and stumps are erosional features that are commonly found on a headland.
What are the 6 types of weathering?
Types of Mechanical Weathering
- Freeze-thaw weathering or Frost Wedging.
- Exfoliation weathering or Unloading.
- Thermal Expansion.
- Abrasion and Impact.
- Salt weathering or Haloclasty.
What are 5 types of weathering?
5 Types of Mechanical Weathering
- Plant Activity. The roots of plants are very strong and can grow into the cracks in existing rocks.
- Animal Activity.
- Thermal Expansion.
- Frost action.
- Exfoliaton.
What causes exfoliation?
Exfoliation is a form of mechanical weathering in which curved plates of rock are stripped from rock below. Most people believe exfoliation is caused by instability as a result of drastically reduced pressure at the earth’s surface allowing the rock to expand. Exfoliation domes are best developed in granitic rock.