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Frost Wedging: Expansion of cracks in rock as water in the crack freezes and
expands
Salt Crystal Growth: Salt crystal growth in cracks forces the crack walls further
apart.
Mechanical Exfoliation: Fracturing due to the release of pressure in a rock layer after
the overburden has been removed by erosion or other processes
Growth Of Plant Roots: Plants grow in rock cracks. Growth of plant roots expands
the cracks.
Burrowing Animal Activities: Animals may burrow into rock cracks leading to
expansion of cracks
Note that mechanical weathering breaks up rocks into smaller pieces, which are more
susceptible to hydrolysis due to the greater surface area exposed to acidic water. Also,
soluble silica (H4SiO4) and metal cations (e.g., magnesium, Mg2+, calcium, Ca2+; sodium
Na+; potassium, K+) released during hydrolysis are dissolved materials that become part
of the water.
The dissolved ions thus added to water may precipitate elsewhere and ultimately be
transformed to inorganic chemical sedimentary rocks. dissolved silica generally
precipitates as secondary silica away from the site of its production.
The carbonate and sulfate minerals are highly soluble compared to the alumino-silicates
The major carbonate minerals are calcite and dolomite. The major sulfate mineral is
gypsum. Na- and K- generally deposit as chlorides or sulfates. These minerals are called
evaporates, which are readily soluble in water and hence only found in deserts.