Weathering Worksheet

Complete this week’s lab by filling in your responses to the questions from Geoscience Laboratory. Although you are only required to respond to the questions in this worksheet, you are encouraged to answer others from the text on your own. Questions and charts are from Geoscience Laboratory, 5th ed. (p. 117-130), by T. Freeman, 2009, New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. Reprinted with permission.

Lab Questions:
7.1 The nature of the boundary with bedrock serves to distinguish regolith from sediments. Describe the difference in the boundaries between (A) bedrock and regolith, and (B) bedrock and sediments, in Figure 7.1. Regolith is the material that lies on top of bedrock and is unconsolidated and rest on top of bedrock bedrock and sediments are stable whereas regolith is not 7.2 In Figure 7.2, if A is one unit area, how many unit areas are in B? In C? In D? B,6 c 12 d 48

7.5 Less obvious is the greater degree of weathering that might e apparent on the east sides of north-south highways (Fig. 7.8). What is the reasonable explanation for that? Hint: A clue is imbedded in Figure 7.8. The most reasonable explanation is that the weathering from the sun effects the east side of the ridge from the afternoon sun on the morning frost. 7.6 What is the singular difference (apparent in Figures 7.10 and 7.11) in the chemical composition of common clay and kaolinite? Kaolinite is more refined clay due to the increased rain fall and increase hydrolysis of orthoclase which is more through and is converted from feldspar 7.10 Rocks in fresh roadcuts are commonly gray to brown in color, but after a few decades reds and yellows begin to appear.

Why? Hint: What elements in the atmosphere and surface water are at work here? When water combines with hematite it limonite forms creating Hughes of yellow 7.13 Coal deposits are commonly rich in pyrite. Why is that? Hint: How does coal form? (This topic is covered in the exercise Metamorphic Rocks on page 110.) Coal is a sedimentary material the amount of pyrite in coal is related to the amount of disposal organic material that was compressed and formed 7.15 Dissolution of limestone is facilitated by a humid climate. What are the two things associated with humid climates that promote the dissolution of limestone? Hint: These two things, both of which can be easily observed from a car window, are illustrated in Figure 7.19.

H2o co2 and h2co3 help in the dissolution of limestone and which produces bi carbonate which helps in the forming of caves and landscapes. 7.18 How is it that a cave is born within the saturated zone, but then somehow finds its way into the unsaturated zone? Hint: The answer is evident in Figure 7.21. Because the desolation and erosion depends the valley with time reducing the water table and allowing the water from the cave to diapate. 7.19 Agitation (as in shaking) liberates CO2 from soda pop. So what one or two actions of cave water do you think might be accompanied by agitation of the water? Hint: We’re looking for a simple cause of turbulence…as in the case of rain water. The release or agitation of the water would release the co2 causing the water to rise and evaporate. 7.20 Name two uses of plants in addition to food. Hint: You can probably see both from your desk. Provide oxygen and filter groundwater

7.22 Ref. Figure 7.24. Why the patchy occurrences of high rainfall in the northwest? Hint: Look again at the caption to Figure 7.23. Because upland forest receive more rain than low areas
7.24 Relative to the map feature asked for in Q7.23, where, in broad map terms, is the more fertile soil in Fayette County (NW, NE, SW, SE of the map feature)? It would be the north east by the Colorado river

7.28 After 30 years of development, (A) which horizon was the thickest? (B) Which horizon was yet to develop? Horizon o was the thickest and horizon a was yet to develop

Lab Summary:
Address the following in a 200-300 word summary:
Summarize the general principles and purpose of the lab.
Explain how this lab helped you better understand the topics and concepts
addressed this week. Describe what you found challenging about this lab.
Describe what you found interesting about this lab.
Write your summary here:
The purpose of this lab was to examine the hydrolic cycle and interactions within the earths atmosphere. Also to discuss and examine the effects of the hydrolic cycle on the earths soil and rock. Weathering of rocks, caves and other ground landscapes were reviewed and explored within this lab. Discussed was the ways that hydrolic cycle as well as weathering shapes the landscapes of the earth. This lab was helpful in assisting me in the understanding of the complete process of weathering on the earth and how it helps to shape the earth and its surface.

This lab helped me to evaluate how many of the landscapes are formed and why they are formed and what processes must happen for landscapes to change and evolve. This lab was interesting because it gave me a better understanding of the changing world around us and how as well as why those changes occur. It was interesting to learn how these things take place as well as the effect weathering has on many different materials within the earth. This lab was challing to me as most of them are in interpreting the information given and relaying that into the questions asked.