Rocks and Weathering
About Rocks and Weathering
Rocks consist of tightly bound mineral grains. Every outcrop shows bits of quartz, feldspar and mica. They form the solid shell beneath our feet. Each stone carries the record of heat and pressure deep in Earth’s crust.
Physical forces break rocks over time. Wind grinds edges. Water freezes in cracks and expands the gap. Waves push pebbles against cliffs. Chemical shifts attack minerals. Oxygen strips electrons from iron and turns it into rust. Acid in rainwater dissolves calcite and wears down limestone.
Weathering shapes soil and carves ridges. It adds silt to rivers and piles sand on shores. It wears pavement and cracks walls. Scientists track these shifts. They use that information to strengthen buildings and map landslide paths. Every weathered layer tells how Earth changes over time.