Limestone Granite Weathering

Weathering is the breakdown of rock by physical chemical or biological processes.

Limestone granite weathering.

It begins when a crack made larger by freeze thaw and tree roots growing larger until the rock splits. This greatly shows that out of the three rock samples being tested against limestone that granite will most likely show less weathering through the duration of the experiment. Limestone is a sedimentary rock created from the remains of dead sea creatures and is predominately made up of calcium carbonate. A gravestone made of granite will therefore resist fracturing cracking and chipping longer than a sandstone marker found in the same location.

Limestone being sedementary is sheety and softer than granite which is igneous and harder having less cracks so it weathers more slowly. Limestone areas are predominantly affected by chemical weathering when rainwater which contains a weak carbonic acid reacts with limestone. Thus limestone is not easily soluble in pure water but carbonated water dissolves the rock effectively. Granite is extremely hard and less affected by the freeze thaw cycle the forces of abrasion and the surface exfoliation processes that are all a part of physical weathering.

Limestone gets pitted and porous due to chemical weathering. Carbon dioxide from the respiration of animals and ourselves is one cause of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Granite vs limestone characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Differential weathering happens when softer rocks weathers away and leaves harder more resistant rock behind.

Many horizontal and vertical cracks run through limestone. Rainwater can get acidic because of the carbonic acid that it contains. Granite vs limestone characteristics. These two processes indicate the direct attack of atmospheric moisture on the individual minerals of a rock that ultimately affect its structural make up.

This causes the limestone to dissolve. Although the granite is now starting to show some signs of decay it took over a hundred years and exposure to aggressive water to do so. These cracks allow water to pass easily through the rock. Mechanical weathering is weathering done by trees ice etc.

Characteristics of rocks include texture appearance color fracture streak hardness etc. The rounded shapes are pillows formed at depth in the granitic magma roots rub against the edges of the granite burrowing animals eat away parts of the granite weathering removes corners and edges as in spheroidal weathering. Hard rocks such as granite weather more slowly than softer rocks such as limestone. Karst is landscape formed from the weathering of limestone.

B hydration and hydrolysis. This is because calcium carbonate which is one of the minerals found in limestone readily reacts with rainwater.