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Biological Weathering of Rocks

Updated: 8/11/2023
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14y ago

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Biological weathering is caused by activities of living organisms - for example, the growth of roots or the burrowing of animals. Tree roots are probably the most occuring, but can often be by animals! Its where animals or roots prise the rock apart.

This is more than roots digging in and wedging rocks. Biological weathering is the actual molecular breakdown of minerals. There are things called lichens (combinations of fungi and algae) which live on rocks. Lichens slowly eat away at the surface of rocks. The amount of biological activity that breaks down minerals depends on how much life is in that area. You might find more activities like lichens near oceans where the air is humid and cooler! Or for a short cut ask your daddy!

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10y ago
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15y ago

Biotic Weathering The word 'bio' means life. Thus biotic weathering is any type of weathering that is caused by living organisms. Most often the culprit of biotic weathering are plant roots. These roots can extend downward, deep into rock cracks in search of water, and nutrients. In the process they act as a wedge, widening and extending the cracks.

Other causes of biotic weathering are digging animals, microscopic plants and animals, algae and fungi.

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14y ago

Weathering is the erosion of rocks.

Biological: This is when the rocks get eroded due to the activity of plants and animals.

Chemcial: This is when the rocks are eroded by chemicals, normally an example of chemical weathering would be acid rain.

Physical: This is when the rocks are eroded slowly by water, or by lava, wind, or by hitting other rocks

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14y ago

when a plant will grow though the rock causing it to start breaking away

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3y ago

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Q: Biological Weathering of Rocks
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Related questions

What are the differences between mechanical weathering and biological weathering?

biological weathering is when plants grow inside of a rock and break it apart, mechanical weathering is when rocks are broken apart by a force


What happens if there is a biological weathering?

Firstly, Yes there is such thing as . Biological Weathering The process is: 1. Animals dig under rocks and into rocks. 2. Rocks undercut and cracks widen. 3. Rock's loosened or broken up 4. Rock's Collapse or fall apart.


What us biological weathering?

What is biological weathering


What is the term weathering?

physical, chemical or biological breakdown of rocks and minerals into smaller sized particles.


How does soil contribute in breaking down rocks?

Soil doesn't really contribute to the breaking down of rocks soil is the end product of the breaking down of rocks. Rocks are broken down by weathering processes such as physical weathering, chemical weathering or biological weathering the material after the rock breaks down combined with organic material creates soil.


What is the name for tree roots forming out of rocks?

Biological weathering; Its a type of weathering which involves the breaking apart and disintegration of rocks throught the process of tree roots out growth or development by opening of cracks, joints and faults in rocks.


What is the difference between siliciclastic and chemical or biochemical sedimentary rocks?

1) Chemical and biological sedimentary rocks are produced by chemical weathering instead of the siliciclastic sediments which are created by physical weathering. Because physical weathering is much more often than the chemical weathering there are 10 times more clastic sediments in the earth's crust than chemical and biological sediments.


What are the three weather types which can erode rocks?

1) Physical weathering can be split into 2 subgroups-Freeze Thaw and Onion Skin! 2) Chemical Weathering! 3) Biological Weathering!


What is biological weather?

Biological weathering is when plants or animal breakdown the rock.


What is biological wheathering?

biological weathering is the process of animals digging under rocks and into cracks and the rocks undercut and cracks widen and then the rock is loosened up and broken up then the rock collapses and falls apart


What is an example of biological weatheing?

Lichen EDIT: Lichen is not so much an example of biological weathering, as a cause. When Lichen grows on rocks it releases chemicals which dissolve the rock. This can be seen in rocks which appear to be covered in flakes of rock.


What type of weathering does plant cause?

Biological. General rule, anything alive which causes weathering is biological weathering.