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Chapter 4Weathering and Soil
Pages 84-102Earth Science, 11e
Edward J. Tarbuck &Frederick K. Lutgens
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Earth's external processes
• Weathering – the disintegration and decomposition of material at or near the surface
• Mass wasting – the transfer of rock material downslope under the influence of gravity
• Erosion – the incorporation and transportation of material by a mobile agent, usually water, wind, or ice
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Weathering
Two kinds of weathering • Mechanical weathering• Chemical weathering
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Frost wedging
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Talus Slope
• http://www.gentleye.com/camping/pics/bobsphotos/pages/talus%20slope.htm
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Before Unloading
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Unloading and exfoliationof igneous rocks
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Exfoliation Domes
http://www.pe.net/~rmceoin/pics/2003/yosemite/tn/pic%20219%20half%20dome%20liberty.jpg.html
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Biologic activity
Root breaking rock
• http://www.rossway.net/root_wedging.htm
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Mechanical weathering
• Breaking of rocks into smaller pieces • Processes of mechanical weathering
• Frost wedging• Unloading• Biological activity
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Chemical weathering
• Alters the internal structures of minerals by removing or adding elements
• Most important agent is water
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Water as chemical weathering agent
• Oxygen dissolved in water oxidizes materials
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolved in water forms carbonic acid and alters the material
• H2O + CO2 H2CO3
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Chemical weathering
Weathering of granite • Composed of potassium feldspar and quartz• Accomplished by water turned into carbonic
acid
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Weathering of potassium feldspar
KAlSi3O8 + H2CO3 + H2O Feldspar carbonic acidAl2Si2O5(OH)4 + KHCO3 + SiO2
Clay mineral dissolved ionspotassium bicarbonate
silica
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Balanced equation2 KAlSi3O8 + 2 H2CO3 + H2O Al2Si2O5(OH)4 + 2 KHCO3 + 4 SiO2
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Weathering of Granite• Produces clay minerals, soluble salt
(potassium bicarbonate), and silica in solution
• Quartz remains substantially unaltered• Weathering of silicate minerals produces
insoluble iron oxides and clay minerals
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Spheroidal Weathering
• http://www.outreach.canterbury.ac.nz/resources/geology/page12.shtml
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Rates of weathering
Important factors• Rock characteristics• Climate
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Different Rock Types weather differently
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Increase of surface area by mechanical weathering
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Rock characteristics
• Mineral composition and solubility• Physical features such as joints
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Chemical Weathering
• Advanced mechanical weathering aids chemical weathering by increasing the surface area
• Allows chemical weathering greater access to rock surfaces
• Results in spheroidal shape of rocks
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Joint-controlled weathering in igneous rocks
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Climate
Rainfall
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4210629.stm
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/rainfall.gpcp.html
Temperature
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Climate• Temperature and moisture are the most
crucial factors• Chemical weathering is most effective in
areas of warm temperatures and abundant moisture
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Differential Weathering
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Differential weathering
• Caused by variations in composition • Creates unusual and spectacular rock
formations and landforms
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Soil • That portion of the regolith (rock and
mineral fragments) that supports the growth of plants
• An interface in the Earth system
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SOIL: An interface in the Earth system
Soil is a combination of • Mineral matter• Water• Air• Biologic components of Earth
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Typical components in a soil that yields good plant growth
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Soil texture and structure
Texture refers to the proportions of different particle sizes • Sand (large size) • Silt• Clay (small size)
Loam (a mixture of all three sizes) is best suited for plant life
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Soil Texture
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Controls of soil formation• Parent material • Time• Climate • Plants and animals • Slope
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Controls of soil formationParent material
• Original mineral makeup• Important in young soils
• Residual soil – from bedrock • Transported soil –carried from elsewhere
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Controls of soil formation
Time• varies for soils in different climates,
locations
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Controls of soil formation
Climate • Amount of moisture available• Temperature
• Chemical reaction speed• Rate of plant growth
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Controls of soil formationPlants and animals
• Organisms influence the soil's physical and chemical properties
• Furnish organic matter to soil
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Controls of soil formation
SlopeAngle
• Steep: poorly developed soils • Flat to undulating surface: best
Orientation (direction the slope is facing)• Soil temperature• Moisture
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An idealized soil profile
• O = organic
• A = with roots
• E = leached
• B = accumulation
• C = partly weathered bedrock
• R = unweatheredbedrock
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Soil Profile
Soil forming processes operate from the surface downward • Horizons – zones or layers of soil• Mature soils show differences in color and
texture from one horizon to another
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A soil profile showing different horizons
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Soil types
• Hundreds of soil types worldwide • Five very general types
• Arid area soils• Humid warm soils• Humid temperate soils• Poorly drained soils• Highly weathered soils
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Arid area soils
http://www.casdn.neu.edu/~geology/department/staff/colgan/dinos/dino.htm
Calcium carbonate • Associated with drier
grasslands and deserts
• Pale tan with hardpan layer
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Humid temperate soils
• Iron oxides and Al-rich clays in the B-horizon
• Forest vegetation • Rich brown soil with
well developed horizons
• http://www.geo.lsa.umich.edu/~crlb/COURSES/117-IntroductiontoGeology/Lec28/lec28.html
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Poorly Drained soils
• Dark grey to greenish
• Ashy appearance• Bogs or permafrost
areas
http://soilgc.job.affrc.go.jp/Archive/PhotoPrf/page_thumb84.html
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Highly weathered soils• Hot, wet, tropical
climates • Intense chemical
weathering • Often red or very pale
gray
• http://www.geo.lsa.umich.edu/~crlb/COURSES/117-IntroductiontoGeology/Lec28/lec28.html• http://ruby.colorado.edu/~smyth/G1010-06.html
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Mineral Enrichment
by weathering
http://www.sdpsoilgas.com/sdp/studies/Por_B.htm
• http://www.cornish-mining.org.uk/story/copper.htm
• http://www.geology.ohio-state.edu/~vonfrese/gs100/lect24/index.html