In some case chemical weathering can cause this (where new crystals form from old ones but where the volume of the new crystals is not the same as the original).
In other cases the weathering process is temperature driven by water entering the porous layer of a weathering rock and freezing. This can split the rock parallel to the surface, giving it exfoliation layers.
Some texts also imply that exfoliation domes are produced by by removal of vertical pressure relieving paleo stresses in the rock, this however would not be a weathering process.
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∙ 7y agoThe slabs of rock are likely experiencing exfoliation due to weathering processes like expansion and contraction of the rock layers. As the outer layers of the rock are exposed to temperature changes, they expand and contract at different rates, causing the rock to separate into layers like an onion. This process is a type of mechanical weathering that occurs over time.
d. differential weathering
Acid rain
Half Dome is composed of the intrusive igneous rock granite.
Mechanical Weathering.
The type of weathering that causes the peeling of large curved sheets from a rock is known as exfoliation weathering. This occurs when outer layers of rock are stripped away due to expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes.
In Mica, exfoliation is a common form of physical weathering where thin sheets of mica peel off due to changes in pressure and temperature. In Shale, frost wedging is a common type of physical weathering where ice expands in cracks, causing the rock to break apart.
rain and any type of precipitation
The type of weathering that occurs due to the release of pressure is called exfoliation weathering. This process involves the outer layers of rocks peeling away in sheets due to the reduction of pressure on the rock surface.
This type of weathering is known as mechanical or physical weathering. It occurs when rocks expand and contract due to changes in temperature, which can cause them to crack and break apart over time.
Therew is only to types of weathering in my knowledge and they are Mechanical and Chemical (in scientific term). Mechanical is also know as physical.
Exfoliation is primarily caused by physical weathering processes such as thermal expansion and contraction, where daily and seasonal temperature changes cause rocks to expand and contract, leading to the outer layers of rock peeling off in sheets. This process is especially common in areas with extreme temperature fluctuations like deserts.
Spheroidal weathering is the process that tends to form spherical boulders. This type of weathering occurs on rocks with varying resistance to weathering, resulting in the development of rounded shapes over time due to the uneven weathering of the rock surfaces.
The process is called exfoliation or sheeting. It occurs when outer layers of rock are removed due to expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes, moisture, or other environmental factors.
Exfoliation weathering occurs due to the release of pressure. This type of weathering involves the peeling away of outer layers of rocks that were formed under high pressure deep within the Earth's crust. As the pressure is released, the rocks expand and crack, leading to the shedding of layers.
Exfoliation weathering causes the peeling of large curved sheets from a rock. This type of weathering occurs due to the expansion and contraction of rock layers in response to temperature changes, leading to the outer layers flaking off in curved sheets.
Physical weathering affects the size of a sample by breaking down rocks into smaller pieces through processes like frost wedging, exfoliation, and abrasion. These physical processes can reduce the size of the sample by breaking it into smaller fragments.