Part III Rock Shape Weathering wears and breaks rock using physical means, while it oxidizes, hydrolyzes
Question:
Part III – Rock Shape
Weathering wears and breaks rock using physical means, while it oxidizes, hydrolyzes and dissolves rock using chemical means. When rock is quarried and crushed, then used as gravel in driveways and roads, it has sharp edges. After many hundreds of years we would expect that the erosion of physical and chemical weathering would round-off the sharp edges and make the individual pieces of gravel smaller. By observing the condition of the edges and the size of the rock pieces, we can get an idea how long the rocks have been exposed to weathering.
What are the edges of the rocks like at our study site? Are they (highlight one) (1)-Angular with sharp edges, Angular with rounded edges, Rounded, or Flat
Part IV – Surface conditions
Another method of estimating how long a rock has been exposed and undisturbed on the surface is by observing the oxidization of its surface. How dark is the rock, because once atmospheric or hydrospheric oxygen has had access to the rock, usually oxidization will create darker oxides. Also, when a rock has been exposed at the surface and not been rotated or flipped in a while, the biosphere will begin to take hold. This will likely start with the colonization of lichens, and mosses if it is wet enough, then soils may start to accumulate and some large enough rocks end up with huge trees growing on top of them. This tells us the rock has been there for a long time without being disturbed. When a rock is in a marine ecosystem we can expect different organisms to grow on them like algae, barnacles, corals, etc.
How dark are the surfaces of the rocks at our study site? Have they had much time to oxidize? Highlight one of the following (1) - Light, some dark patches, all dark
Is there any evidence of organisms growing on the rocks? Be sure to examine the terrestrial and marine areas of the mass wasting colluvium. Are there (highlight any) (1) - Lichens, mosses, living trees, algae, barnacles