Weathering

Weathering occurs fastest in hot, wet climates. It occurs very slowly in hot and dry climates. Without temperature changes, ice wedging cannot occur.

High temperatures and greater rainfall increase the rate of chemical weathering. 2. Rocks in tropical regions exposed to abundant rainfall and hot temperatures weather much faster than similar rocks residing in cold, dry regions.

Terracing. A process by which softer, less weather-resistant rocks wear away and leave harder, more weather-resistant rocks behind.

When a large rock is broken into smaller blocks, the total volume of the rocks is the same. There is now more surface area though. Weathering happens over a greater surface area. The smaller rock weathers faster than if it was one large chunk.

is dissolved, worn away or broken down into smaller and smaller pieces. Erosion happens when rocks and sediments are picked up and moved to another place by ice, water, wind or gravity. Mechanical weathering physically breaks up rock.

Ritseling Cave. Weathering is the breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on Earths surface. Once a rock has been broken down, a process called erosion transports the bits of rock and minerals away. Water, acids, salt, plants, animals, and changes in temperature are all agents of weathering and erosion.

What Natural Activities Work to Break Down Rock?

• Friction and Tectonic Forces. Some of the first forces that may begin the process of breaking down rock are underground tectonic forces.
• Chemical Weathering.
• Physical Weathering.
• Wind and Water Erosion.

Erosion is defined as the movement of rock by water or wind and is different from weathering, which requires no movement to occur.

• Mechanical Weathering and Abrasion. The most significant form of weathering is abrasion.
• Chemical Weathering and Disintegration.
• Weathering from Ice.
• Biological Weathering.

Tension stress

When rocks are heated by the Sun, they get a little bit bigger. It can get into very small cracks in rocks. If it gets cold enough, the water turns into ice. It expands and causes the rock to break apart.

Lewis. “But it’s a long transformation process from exposed rock to a mature soil. Depending on the nature of the rock and other factors in its surroundings, that time period can range between tens to tens of thousands of years!” Soil scientists look at five major factors in the soil-forming process.

Concrete is a durable building material that takes special materials to dissolve once it’s hardened into place. Phosphoric acid and trisodium phosphate are the main compounds used to dissolve concrete leftover from masonry work.

To separate the chunks, swing the pointed end of the mattock into the crack and pry up. Push the pieces far enough apart so you can switch to the larger flat blade. If the chunk won’t budge, move the mattock to the opposite side of the chunk above the flat edge under the concrete.

Vinegar does not dissolve concrete itself but can degrade the cement that binds concrete together. As a weak, dilute acid, vinegar will cause only minor damage to concrete but can take the shine off polished surfaces. It can, however, be used to remove small amounts of cement from tools.

Rotary hammers use an electro-pneumatic hammer piston to generate high impact energy, which allows it to drill or demolish concrete. Demolition hammers can break, chip and chisel concrete, but they can’t drill because there is no rotation of the bit.

When thinking about breaking up concrete, most of our minds jump straight to jackhammer. But you can probably do the work with a metal sledgehammer and a little elbow grease. Sledgehammer is the best tool to use if the slab of concrete is three inches thick or less.

Standard sledgehammers measure between 7 and 15 pounds. Typical projects for a standard-size sledgehammer include removing walls, breaking concrete, and other DIY demolition and renovation tasks. Heavy-duty sledgehammers have heads that weigh 16 pounds or more.

Instructions

1. Dig Under the Concrete. Dig out the soil, gravel, or other material from under the concrete, using a shovel and a pickax.
2. Strike the Concrete. Lightly sprinkle the concrete with water to minimize dust.
3. Pry Off Stubborn Pieces.
4. Move the Concrete Chunks With a Hand Truck.