GEOG 1113L Lab 5 Weathering
Lab 5: Weathering
GEOG 1113L – Introduction to Landforms Lab Name:
I. What is Weathering?
1. What does weathering create/provide and what would Earth’s surface be composed of if
weathering did not happen?
When rocks break down by physically disingenerating or chemically decomposing
2. What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Weathering breaks down the rocks and creates fragmented materials or sediments which
becomes the raw materials for the formation of soil / It would be solid bedrock
3. Describe the process of frost wedging (frost action).
Water that has been absorbed into the pores of the rock expands when it freezes building up
stress causing the rock to break.
4. Similar to frost wedging, salt crystal growth fractures rocks through crystal growth within the
pores of the rock. These crystals originate from minerals inside the water inside the rock that
later evaporates and leaves behind granular disintegration.
5. The two previously mentioned types of weathering are both forms of what? Mechanical
weathering
6. Which type of weathering causes metal to rust? Chemical weathering
7. Weathering that alters minerals in a rock via water, oxygen, carbon, and/or other organic acids is
called what?
Chemical weathering
8. Which type of weathering causes karst topography? Chemical weathering
9. Name three features you might find in a karst landscape. Sinkholes, caves, limestone pavements
10. What is one fact (from the video) about caves that you find interesting?
One interesting fact from the video is that caves are often formed through chemical weathering,
specifically carbonation
11. Tree roots, lichen, and humans all play a part in weathering as well. Which type of weathering is
this called?
Biological weathering
II. Weathering Resistance
Use the two images below to answer questions about weathering resistance. Assume all rock layers in
both images have been subjected to the same type/amount of weathering.
Image A:
, 1. Which color/pattern represents a rock layer that is MOST resistant to weathering compared to
the others? Light grey
2. Which color/pattern represents a rock layer that is LEAST resistant to weathering compared to
the others?
The textured pattern
3. Which colors/patterns represent rock layers that share the same level of resistance to
weathering compared to the others? Dark grey
Image B:
4. Within the red box, which layer appears to be most resistant to weathering (A, B, or C)? C
5. Within the red box, which layer appears to be the least resistant to weathering?
A 6. What is one indication that a rock layer is more resistant to
weathering?
If it has a cliff or a ridge
III. Physical Vs. Chemical Weathering
Lab 5: Weathering
GEOG 1113L – Introduction to Landforms Lab Name:
I. What is Weathering?
1. What does weathering create/provide and what would Earth’s surface be composed of if
weathering did not happen?
When rocks break down by physically disingenerating or chemically decomposing
2. What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Weathering breaks down the rocks and creates fragmented materials or sediments which
becomes the raw materials for the formation of soil / It would be solid bedrock
3. Describe the process of frost wedging (frost action).
Water that has been absorbed into the pores of the rock expands when it freezes building up
stress causing the rock to break.
4. Similar to frost wedging, salt crystal growth fractures rocks through crystal growth within the
pores of the rock. These crystals originate from minerals inside the water inside the rock that
later evaporates and leaves behind granular disintegration.
5. The two previously mentioned types of weathering are both forms of what? Mechanical
weathering
6. Which type of weathering causes metal to rust? Chemical weathering
7. Weathering that alters minerals in a rock via water, oxygen, carbon, and/or other organic acids is
called what?
Chemical weathering
8. Which type of weathering causes karst topography? Chemical weathering
9. Name three features you might find in a karst landscape. Sinkholes, caves, limestone pavements
10. What is one fact (from the video) about caves that you find interesting?
One interesting fact from the video is that caves are often formed through chemical weathering,
specifically carbonation
11. Tree roots, lichen, and humans all play a part in weathering as well. Which type of weathering is
this called?
Biological weathering
II. Weathering Resistance
Use the two images below to answer questions about weathering resistance. Assume all rock layers in
both images have been subjected to the same type/amount of weathering.
Image A:
, 1. Which color/pattern represents a rock layer that is MOST resistant to weathering compared to
the others? Light grey
2. Which color/pattern represents a rock layer that is LEAST resistant to weathering compared to
the others?
The textured pattern
3. Which colors/patterns represent rock layers that share the same level of resistance to
weathering compared to the others? Dark grey
Image B:
4. Within the red box, which layer appears to be most resistant to weathering (A, B, or C)? C
5. Within the red box, which layer appears to be the least resistant to weathering?
A 6. What is one indication that a rock layer is more resistant to
weathering?
If it has a cliff or a ridge
III. Physical Vs. Chemical Weathering
