Mechanical Weathering:
* Frost wedging: Water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, expands, and puts pressure on the rock. This repeated freezing and thawing can cause the rock to break apart.
* Exfoliation: As rocks are exposed to the surface, they release pressure that was previously holding them together. This can cause layers of rock to peel away, like an onion.
* Abrasion: Rocks are worn down by friction from windblown sand, ice, or other rocks.
Chemical Weathering:
* Hydrolysis: Water reacts with minerals in rocks, causing them to break down. This is especially common in rocks containing feldspar.
* Oxidation: Oxygen reacts with minerals in rocks, causing them to break down. This is common in rocks containing iron.
* Carbonation: Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in rainwater, creating a weak acid. This acid can react with minerals in rocks, such as limestone, and break them down.
In summary:
Mountain rocks are subject to a variety of weathering processes, both mechanical and chemical. The specific type of weathering that occurs depends on factors like the rock type, climate, and elevation.
