MMEW workshop 2015 - UMD
Rock Weathering
> Rocks alter, disintegrate, and transform on the surface (weathering, erosion)
??? exposure to physical and chemical processes and unstable nature of material (natural, artificial)
Mechanical Weathering Chemical Weathering
🡺 physical breakdown of material by water, air, biota 🡺 chemical reactions between material and water
- water (freezing, crystal growth) => pressure - dissolution => break-up of chemical bonds
- sun (heating, cooling) => temperature - oxidation => reaction with O2 alters mineral chemistry
- biological activity (roots) => pressure - hydrolysis => chemical exchange transforms minerals
Soil Sediments/Natural Resources
🡺 mineral debris, organic matter, water, air 🡺 collection of residuals/chemical reaction products
- main supplier of plants nutrients (food) - rock and mineral fragments (sandstone, shale, “dirt, mud”)
- vital for human life; strongly affected by surfaces use - major resource formation (clay, sand, Al, Au, Sn)
<> search terms and links (selection): weathering in the classroom, erosion, rock weathering, rock alteration
<> http://www.teachertube.com/video/weathering-and-erosion-classroom-activities-58210;
<> http://geographyclassroom2014.weebly.com/weathering.html
<> http://www.rsc.org/Education/Teachers/Resources/jesei/weather/teachers.pdf