Weathering and Soils

Over time, geological materials exposed at Earth’s surface will break down. Solid material will break into pieces, large pieces will break into smaller pieces, and chemical reactions will occur that change the nature of materials that are present. This process is weathering. Weathering is not limited to natural materials; it also affects human artifacts made from natural materials, including buildings, monuments, and gravestones. Weathering occurs because most rocks and minerals are not formed at normal Earth surface conditions. Geologists divide weathering into three types that often work in concert: physical weathering, chemical weathering and biological weathering. Weathering and other zone processes transform geological and biological materials into soil. Soil is divided into different types including dry soil, moist soil, wet soil and cemented soil. Soil erosion occurs naturally and, over time, has been balanced by soil production.