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Letter WGeology glossary

Weathering

Weathering is the process by which rocks and minerals are broken down into smaller particles by physical, chemical, and biological processes. Weathering is significant in geology for understanding the formation of soil, the breakdown of rocks, and the role of weathering in landscape evolution and the rock cycle.

Natural rock arch in desert landscape at sunset (weathering)
Fig. 1 Natural rock arch in desert landscape at sunset (weathering)

Source White, A. F., & Brantley, S. L. (1995). “Chemical Weathering Rates of Silicate Minerals.” Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 31(1), 1-22.

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