Answer:
Explanation:
Weathering can best be defined as the physical, chemical and biological disintegration of rocks to form sediments and soils.
It is an important natural process that has sculpted landscapes and produced useful Agricultural soils over decades.
From the definition, one can extract three main types of weathering.
- Physical weathering is also known as mechanical weathering. It is the breaking down of rocks to form soils by physical means. The freezing and thawing of ice, thermal expansion of rocks, salt crystal growth, pressure release e.t.c causes chunks and bits of rocks to fall off and form soils.
- Chemical weathering is the decomposition of rocks to form sediments and soils. It involves oxidation, carbonation, hydration and even hydrolysis of rocks to form soils.
- Biological weathering utilizes the life activities of plants and animals to drive weathering. Burrowing animals breaks of chunks of rocks and power them into essential soil matter. Chemicals secreted during life process of plants are important to weathering.
