Earth
Science, 10th edition
Chapter 3: Weathering,
Soil, and Mass Wasting
I. Earth's external
processes include
II. Weathering
A. Two kinds of
weathering
1. Mechanical
weathering
2. Chemical
weathering
B. Rates of weathering
1. Advanced
mechanical weathering aids chemical weathering by increasing the surface area
2. Important
factors are
a. Rock
characteristics
b. Climate
3. Differential
weathering
III. Soil
A. An interface in the
Earth system
B. A combination of
mineral matter, water, and air – that portion of the regolith
(rock
and mineral
fragments) that supports the growth of plants
C. Soil texture and
structure
1. Texture
2. Structure
D. Controls of soil
formation
1. Parent
material
2. Time
3. Climate
4. Plants and
animals
5. Slope
E. Soil Profile
1. Soil forming
processes operate from the surface downward
2. Horizons –
zones or layers of soil
F. Soil types
1. Hundreds of
soil types worldwide
2. Three very
generic types
a. Pedalfer
b. Pedocal
c. Laterite
G. Soil Erosion
1. Recycling of
Earth materials
2. Natural rates
of erosion depend on
3. Soil erosion
and sedimentation can cause
IV. Weathering creates ore
deposits
A. Process called
secondary enrichment
V. Mass Wasting
A. The downslope movement of rock, regolith,
and soil under the direct influence of gravity
B. Gravity is the
controlling force
C. Important triggering
factors are
D. Types of mass
wasting processes
1. Generally each
type is defined by
a. The
material involved
b. The
movement of the material
c. The rate
of the movement
2. Forms of mass
wasting
a. Slump
b. Rockslide
c. Debris
flow (mudflow)
d. Earthflow
e. Creep
f. Solifluction