Weathering is a process that shapes the Earth's landscapes.
Weathering can be a mechanical, chemical or biological process. Whatever the agent, weathering involves the breaking down and erosion of stone. This is a beneficial and essential process of nature and without it, Earth would not sustain life as it does. Geologists can use weathering to determine facts about a region's past. Stone masons deal with weathering in a negative way, racing against the clock to preserve stone monuments and buildings.
Sediment
As weathering breaks down rock, it is ground and broken into smaller and smaller pieces. Some of these pieces turn into sediment, which forms sedimentary rock like limestone and sandstone. People use sedimentary stone for building and carving. The pieces of weathered rock are deposited, usually by a river. As more and more deposits build on top of older ones, the layers slowly compact beneath the pressure. After eons, the bits of sediment and the chemical solutions that surround it turn into sedimentary rock.
Soil
As bits of weathered rock break down, some of them become so small they can actually be eaten by plants. Without weathering, there would be no minerals in the soil and therefore no nutrients for the plants to grow. The particles of mineral become dissolved into water; this is referred to as a solution. According to Physical Geography.net, it is because of rock weathering that the ocean waters are saline.
Dating
As rock weathers, it can become weak and break away in large slabs. Sometimes weathering will expose geologic features previously unseen, giving scientists the opportunity to learn about the Earth's history. Weathering can also be used to relatively date land features; heavy weathering on stone in a desert suggests an ancient climate that had frequent rains. Gaps in a geologic record tell geologists that a region experienced a time of weather erosion as opposed to a time of deposition.
Decay
A consequence of weathering is experienced in items built with stone. Monuments, gravestones, mausoleums, statues and even houses that are made of stone will erode due to mechanical weathering over time. A good example of this type of decay is seen on the sphinx of the Giza plateau in Egypt. The nose of the sphinx was lost long ago due to rock weathering and the monuments continue to wear away despite scientists' efforts to preserve them.
Tags: rock weathering, sedimentary rock, turn into, weathered rock
