chapter 16 weathering and mass movement Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in chapter 16 weathering and mass movement Deck (34)
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1
Q

weathering

A

the process by which solid rock is dissolved and broken apart into smaller fragments

2
Q

erosion

A

the scouring and stripping away of rock fragments loosened by weathering

3
Q

sediment transport

A

the movement of rock fragments that have been weathered and eroded

4
Q

deposition

A

the depositing of sediments

5
Q

denudation

A

the lowering and wearing away of earth’s surface

6
Q

physical weathering

A

the processes that breaks rocks down into smaller pieces without altering the chemical makeup of the rock

7
Q

exfoliation

A

a type of pressure release jointing, creates sheetlike slabs of rocks resembling the layers of an onion

8
Q

frost wedging

A

the process by which water in a joint in rock freezes and expands, causing the opening to grow ex. potholes

9
Q

salt weathering

A

the process in which salt crystals grow in pore spaces within a rock and exert pressure as they grow

10
Q

tafoni

A

rounded pits or cavities on surface of a rock that form through salt wedging

11
Q

root wedging

A

the process in which plant roots break rocks apart

12
Q

chemical weathering

A

the process in which minerals in rock change through chemical reactions involving water

13
Q

carbonation

A

a chemical weathering process in which carbonate rocks such as limestone is dissolved in a carbonic acid solution and carried away

14
Q

hydrolysis

A

the process in which water reacts with and combines with minerals in rocks to form new minerals

15
Q

oxidation

A

the process in which oxygen atoms combine with minerals in rocks and weaken them

16
Q

hydration

A

the process in which water is added to minerals in rock or soil, causing material to expand and weaken

17
Q

spheroidal weathering

A

the process where angular blocks experience the most weathering along their edges and corners, causing them to become rounded

18
Q

differential weathering

A

unequal weathering across a rock surface

19
Q

karst

A

an area dominated by the weathering of carbonate rocks, usually limestone

20
Q

dissolution

A

the general process in which a mineral completely dissolves in water

21
Q

sinkhole

A

a depression in earths surface that results from the dissolution of carbonate rock underground

22
Q

collapse sinkhole

A

sinkhole formed where ceiling of a cavern has collapsed

23
Q

disappearing stream

A

streams that disappear into subterranean channels in karst regions

24
Q

speleothem

A

cave formation that forms by precipitation of calcium carbonate

25
Q

stalactite

A

speleothem that grows from the ceiling of cave downward

26
Q

stalagmite

A

speleothem that grows from floor of cave upward

27
Q

limestone column

A

cylindrical speleothem resulting when a stalactite joins with a stalagmite

28
Q

dripstone vs flowstone

A

dripstone- speleothem that are formed by precipitation of calcium carbonate by dripping water
flowstone- sheetlike calcium carbonate deposits that form along the edged that water drops flow down before they drip

29
Q

mass movement

A

movement of rock, soil, snow, or ice downslope by gravity

30
Q

factors that make slopes unstable

A
  • geologic faults
  • jointing in rocks
  • foliation planes in metamorphic rock
  • layers of saturated clay and sand
  • layers of ice between snow layers
31
Q

rockfall

A

occurs when rocks tumble off a vertical or nearly vertical cliff face

32
Q

talus

A

pieces of angular broken rock that accumulate at the base of a steep slope or vertical cliff

33
Q

talus cone

A

an accumulation of talus in cone shaped piles at the base of rockfall chutes

34
Q

talus apron

A

an accumulation of talus that forms where two or more talus cones merge at the foot of a cliff