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