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It is erosion that breaks down rocks into gravel, sand and soil. The action of wind and water (either as a liquid or as ice) over time, as well as temperature changes (over shorter periods or longer ones), that can reduce mountains to nothing. And it has. And continues to do so. Wind drives rain or dust or sand into rocks, and this abrades them, wearing them away. Water can wash over rocks and wear them away, or it can carry sediment (fine bits of dirt or sand) which can abrade them and wear them down. Water can rush at rocks and pound them in a torrent, lifting them and smashing them into each other as in a flood. Water can slip into tiny cracks in rock and freeze there, breaking off bits of the rock itself (due to ice expanding as the water it is created from freezes). Certainly any catastrophic geologic events can cause massive changes in large rock formations, shifting countless tons of rock and pounding them against each other. Glaciers can grind rocks to dust. Wikipedia has a nice article, and a link is provided.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoWeathering processes cause rocks to break down and form soil
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt depends on climatic conditions. Rocks weather fastest in hot, humid environments.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoErosion or weathering.
Anonymous
The process of breaking down of rocks, soil and minerals is called weathering
Anonymous
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How is soil created from rock?
Over time, loose rocks at Earth's surface and beneath it take a beating. Water that drips into cracksnin rock freezes and thaws again and again. This makes the cracks larger and weakens the rock. Eventually this causes pieces of the rock to break apart. Even plant roots can force their way down into a rock and break it into smaller pieces. These natural Earth processes, known as weathering, take their toll.
Are pine needles good for soil?
Not if you don't want soil that is really acidic. Pine needles are good for mulching, since they take a long time to break down.
How long does soil development take?
Soil is really just decade leaves, moss, and dead matter, that take YEARS to break down, but still, there is a lot of decade matter from millions of years ago, so, I think we are all covered.
Is dirt a mineral?
A typical soil is over 90 percent mineral, made of tiny fragments of broken-down rock. Take a close look at some soil-better yet, rub some between your fingers-and you may notice tiny grains of quartz, feldspar, and shiny mica, or pearly dolomite, or dark basalt from lava flows. When soil is poor, you can often blame the parent-parent rock, that is. A soil's parent rock is the rock from which the soil formed, and it determines the nutrient richness of the resulting soil.
How long does it take to make 1 inch of top soil?
It may take centuries for a soil to become fertile through the breakdown of rock and the accumulation of organic material, but human mismanagement can destroy that fertallity within a few years.
How is soil created from rock?
Over time, loose rocks at Earth's surface and beneath it take a beating. Water that drips into cracksnin rock freezes and thaws again and again. This makes the cracks larger and weakens the rock. Eventually this causes pieces of the rock to break apart. Even plant roots can force their way down into a rock and break it into smaller pieces. These natural Earth processes, known as weathering, take their toll.
Are pine needles good for soil?
Not if you don't want soil that is really acidic. Pine needles are good for mulching, since they take a long time to break down.
What do living organisms in the soil help do?
I think they help break down the soil tp release the nutrients but dont take my word for it, I think this may be for natural fertilisers, Sorry.
How long does it take to change rock into soil?
6minute
Can soil take in water from its surroundings?
Yes, this is why plants can live in soil but not on solid rock.
How are biodegradable materials used in society?
Using biodegradable products, that is, materials that will break down easily in the soil, we are cutting down on pollution (from detergents and chemicals) and land fill stagnation (where landfills are full of plastics and material that will take hundreds of years to break down). == ==
What is the role of decompoers?
Decomposers such as worms and flies break down dead organisms and turn them into soil. It's very important, but people take it for granted.
How long does soil development take?
Soil is really just decade leaves, moss, and dead matter, that take YEARS to break down, but still, there is a lot of decade matter from millions of years ago, so, I think we are all covered.
Is dirt a mineral?
A typical soil is over 90 percent mineral, made of tiny fragments of broken-down rock. Take a close look at some soil-better yet, rub some between your fingers-and you may notice tiny grains of quartz, feldspar, and shiny mica, or pearly dolomite, or dark basalt from lava flows. When soil is poor, you can often blame the parent-parent rock, that is. A soil's parent rock is the rock from which the soil formed, and it determines the nutrient richness of the resulting soil.
What rhymes with break it down?
take it down
How long does it take to make soil into bed rock?
Millions and millions of years
How long does it take for a green bag to break down?
it takes 20 years approximetly to break down.
