SVSU GEGO 101 CH. 9

hydrolysis

A chemical weathering process in which minerals chemically combine with water; a decomposition process that causes silicate minerals in rocks to break down and become altered.

oxidation

A chemical weathering process in which oxygen dissolved in water oxidizes (combines with) certain metallic elements to form oxides; most familiar is the "rusting" of iron in a rock or soil (Ultisols, Oxisols), which produces a reddish-brown stain of iron oxide.

spheroidal weathering

A chemical weathering process in which the sharp edges and corners of boulders and rocks are weathered in thin plates that create a rounded, spheroidal form.

Carbonation

A chemical weathering process in which weak carbonic acid (water and carbon dioxide) reacts with many minerals that contain calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium (especially limestone), transforming them into carbonates.

hydration

A chemical weathering process involving water that is added to a mineral, which initiates swelling and stress within the rock, mechanically forcing grains apart as the constituents expand.

e

All processes that cause reduction and rearrangement of landforms are included in the term a. weathering. b. erosion. c. mass movement. d. evisceration. e. denudation.

mass movement

All unit movements of materials propelled by gravity; can range from dry to wet, slow to fast, small to large, and free-falling to gradual or intermittent.

b

Chemical weathering processes are particularly effective on limestone landscapes, forming a. pressure-release jointing. b. karst topography. c. hydrolysis plains. d. badlands. e. exfoliation domes and arch-like forms.

Chemical Weathering

Decomposition and decay of the constituent minerals in rock through chemical alteration of those minerals. Water is essential, with rates keyed to temperature and precipitation values. Chemical reactions are active at microsites even in dry climates. Processes include hydrolysis, oxidation, carbonation, and solution.

karst topography

Distinctive topography formed in a region of chemically weathered limestone with poorly developed surface drainage and solution features that appear pitted and bumpy; originally named after the Krs Plateau in Slovenia.

scarification

Human-induced mass movement of Earth materials, such as large-scale open-pit mining and strip mining.

d

Hydration involves a. pressure-release jointing. b. the chemical reaction of water. c. frost action. d. the addition of water with little chemical change. e. salt crystal growth from evaporation.

b

Hydrolysis involves a. pressure-release jointing. b. the chemical reaction of water. c. salt crystal growth from evaporation. d. the addition of water with little chemical change. e. frost action.

e

If material is to move down slope, it must overcome the force of a. friction only. b. inertial resistance of the material only. c. the cohesion of particles to each other only. d. both friction and inertial resistance. e. friction, cohesion of particles, and inertial resistance.

d

In which climates would rocks experience the highest amounts of chemical decomposition and decay? a. cold and wet b. hot and dry c. cold and dry d. hot and wet e. cool and moist

b

Rocks of the same composition and structure found in the same area may have weathered at uneven rates due to a variety of factors. This is known as a. inertial resistance. b. differential weathering. c. denudation. d. jointing. e. angle of repose.

a

Salt-crystal growth (salt weathering) is prevalent in which climate type? a. arid b. tropical c. microthermal d. mesothermal e. polar

physical (mechanical) weathering

The breaking apart and disintegration of rock without chemical alternation. These processes include frost action, salt crystal growth, and pressure-release jointing

Differential Weathering

The effect of different resistances in rock, coupled with variations in the intensity of physical and chemical weathering.

c

The mass movement process responsible of the curved growing pattern in the trees and the downslope leaning of the utility posts and fences is a. debris avalanche. b. slump. c. soil creep. d. landslide. e. rockfall.

b

The maximum angle at which soil, sediment, and rock will remain without moving downslope (e.g., a stable slope) is the a. mass movement gradient. b. angle of repose. c. the speed of the particles. d. height of the slope. e. orogeny.

Exfoliation dome

The physical weathering process that occurs as mechanical forces enlarge joints in rock into layers of curved slabs or plates, which peel or slip off in sheets; also called sheeting.

d

The process that breaks down rock at the Earth's surface through disintegration of rocks into mineral particles or dissolving it into water is known as a. landmass denudation. b. deposition. c. mass movement. d. weathering. e. erosion.

weathering

The processes by which surface and subsurface rocks disintegrate, or dissolve, or are broken down. Rocks at or near Earth's surface are exposed to physical and chemical weathering processes.

Bedrock

The rock of Earth's crust that is below the soil and is basically unweathered; such solid crust sometimes is exposed as an outcrop.

Geomorphology

The science that analyzes and describes the origin, evolution, form, classification, and spatial distribution of landforms.

d

The science that specifically studies the origin, evolution, form, and spatial distribution of landforms is a. environmental chemistry. b. geography. c. geology. d. geomorphology. e. hydrology.

d

The solid rock from which regolith and soil develop is a. parent material. b. angle of repose. c. outcrop. d. bedrock. e. joints.

Geomorphic threshold

The threshold up to which landforms change before lurching to a new set of relationships, with rapid realignments of landscape materials and slopes.

parent material

The unconsolidated material, from both organic and mineral sources, that is the basis of soil development.

a

The uplift of mountains is caused by a. endogenic processes. b. aggradation. c. denudation. d. mass movement. e. exogenic forces.

e

When pressure is removed from overlying rock, the pressure of deep burial is relieved, initiating pressure-release jointing. The joints then separate into curved slabs. This is known as a. salt crystal growth. b. crystallization. c. spheroidal weathering. d. frost wedging. e. exfoliation.

e

When rainwater attacks formations of limestone, the minerals dissolve and wash away with the mildly acid rainwater. This is an example of a. crystallization. b. oxidation. c. frost action. d. acidification e. carbonation.

c

When rock is broken down and disintegrated in the presence of water and with chemical alterations to the rock, the process in operation is a. mass movement. b. biological weathering. c. chemical weathering. d. physical weathering. e. scarification.

c

When rock is broken down and disintegrated without any chemical alterations, the process in operation is a. carbonation. b. erosion. c. physical weathering. d. hydrolysis. e. chemical weathering.

c

Which is an example of a resisting force as related to hillslope environments? a. an oversteepened slope b. weight of surface materials on the slope c. cohesiveness of individual particles d. frozen or fluid moisture e. spherical shape of surface materials

b

Which of the following is an example of ways in which global climate change may specifically hasten mass movement? a. The breakdown of rock grains in the increased presence of water will lead to more spheroidal weathering. b. Declining forests from disease and drought will increase slope instability and mass movement events. c. Additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will lead to more carbonation from acid rain. d. Higher rates of evapotranspiration, especially in semi-arid and arid regions will lead to more salt crystal growth. e. Severe drought in many areas will increase the likelihood of debris flows.

b

Which of the following is not a type of physical weathering process? a. frost wedging b. hydrolysis c. salt crystal growth d. exfoliation e. freeze-thaw action

d

Which of the following weathering processes does not involve water? a. crystallization b. carbonation c. hydrolysis d. pressure-release jointing e. hydration

karst

landscape underlain by limestone that has been eroded by dissolution, producing ridges, towers, fissures, sinkholes, and other characteristic landforms.

slopes

A curved, inclined surface that bounds a landform.

pressure-release jointing (exfoliation)

A form of mechanical weathering the occurs when slabs of weathered rock slip of in large sheets, removing pressure on the underlying rock. Gravity also exerts a tension force that also promotes exfoliation.

salt-crystal growth

A form of physical weathering that occurs when dry weather draws moisture to the surface of rocks. As the water evaporates, dissolved mineral salts in the water form crystals that over time, grow and break up the rock.

frost action

A form of physical weathering that occurs when repeated freezing (expanding) and thawing (contracting) of water that breaks rocks apart— particularly in cold climates at high latitudes and high elevations. Blocks of rock often separate along existing joints and fractures.

joints

A fracture or separation in rock that occurs without displacement of the sides; increases the surface area of rock exposed to weathering processes.

Denudation

A general term that refers to all processes that cause degradation of the landscape: weathering, mass movement, erosion, and transport.

Debris Avalanche

A mass of falling and tumbling rock, debris, and soil; can be dangerous because of the tremendous velocities achieved by the onrushing materials.

soil creep

A persistent mass movement of surface soil where individual soil particles are lifted and disturbed by the expansion of soil moisture as it freezes or by grazing livestock or digging animals.

a

A sinkhole that develops over the roof of an underground cavern is known as a a. collapse sinkhole. b. karst valley. c. solution sinkhole. d. karst tower. e. drip curtain.

landslide

A sudden rapid downslope movement of a cohesive mass of regolith and/or bedrock in a variety of mass-movement forms under the influence of gravity; a form of mass movement.

e

Factors influencing the weathering process include a. subsurface water only. b. rock composition and structure only. c. organic processes only. d. the climate of an area only. e. rock composition and structure, climate, organic processes, and subsurface water.

sediment

Fine-grained mineral matter that is transported and deposited by air, water, or ice.

rockfall

Free-falling movement of debris from a cliff or steep slope, generally falling straight or bounding downslope.

a

Frost wedging is an example of ________ weathering processes. a. only physical b. only chemical c. only biological d. both biological and chemical e. both biological and physical

sinkholes

Nearly circular depression created by the weathering of karst landscapes with subterranean drainage; also known as a doline in traditional studies; may collapse through the roof of an underground space.

regolith

Partially weathered rock overlying bedrock, whether residual or transported.

Flows

Pertains to mass wasting when the moisture content of moving material is high. Flows include earthflows and more fluid mudflows.

e

Physical and chemical weathering processes typically occur along the ________ of a slope. a. angle of repose b. debris slope c. depositional surface d. waning slope e. free face