10 Facts about Mechanical Weathering

Post On: January 5, 2018
By: Andi

Find interesting information about natural process that is formed by breaking down of rocks, soil and their minerals through direct contact with the earth’s atmosphere or water or living things on the facts about mechanical weathering. there are two main types of weathering, namely physical and chemical, or sometimes there are also biology. In the descriptions below that are declared more about people less-known information on mechanical weathering.

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 1: Chemical and Physics Weathering

The proccess of weathering is influenced by environment. Physical weathering needs in very cold and dry circumstances. While the chemical reactions are happened where the climate is wet and hot. Amazingly, both of weathering can occur together. For instance, physical abrasion decreases the size of particles, hence it will increase their surface area, eventually, making them more vulnerable to rapid chemical reaction.

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 2: The Impact of Physical and Chemical Reaction on Materials

The effect of  weathering proccess is to convert primary minerals, such as feldspars and micas, to secondary minerals (e.g. clays and carbonates) and aired plant nutrient elements in soluble forms. The materials left after the rock breaks down combined with organic material creates soil.

 

a fracture rock caused by weathering

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 3: Mechanical Weathering

Public recognised the mechanical weathering as physical weathering. Physical weathering means the breakdown of rocks and soils through direct contact with atmosphere condition such as heat, water, ice and pressure.

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 4: Wind

The mechanical weathering can occur by wind. Wind processes also known as ‘aeolin’. Wind reduces and erodes the fine-grain particles, this process called ‘deflation’. Areas that are often erosion called deflation zones. Almost half of earth’s desert surfaces are stony deflation zones.

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 5: Rain

Rain is the factor that is caused the mechanical weathering slowly.The force of  raindrops on some rocks make materials wear drop. Rain can alter chemical composition in some rocks caused by slightly acidic.

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 6: Temperature

Changing of temperature can affect the fracture stones. When the temperature heat because of the high intensity of the sun, it will make the surface get little bigger. On the contrary, at the night, temperature cools down. Consequently, it will encounter and eventually a crack is made.

geological granit exfoliation by mechanical weathering proccess

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 7: Ice

Ice can make mechanical weathering. When ice covers the rocks surface, the fine particles are caried out with the ice.

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 8: Lava or Magma

Mechanical weathering happened through lava or magma when molten rock touches directly older rock. In result, it will make the form of rock changed to a different crystal structure.

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 9: Chemical Weathering

Chemical weathering occur as the direct efect of atmospheric or biological chemicals in the breakdown of rocks, soils, and minerals.

Toklat River, ALaska, formed by mechanical weathering proccess

Facts about Mechanical Weathering 10: Carbon dioxide cycle

Weathering is a large consumer of the atmospheric carbon dioxide essential for dissolving rocks.

The amazing facts have just presented above. How do you feel after reading the facts about Mechanical Weathering?