Weathering and Erosion

Weathering & Erosion

Weathering and erosion are closely related concepts. As weathering occurs, breaking up the rock, it can be transported through erosion.

There are two categories of weathering processes: Physical and Chemical. Although they are two very different processes, they work together to break down rocks and minerals.

Erosion Control Products:

Woven Geotextiles:

Silt Fence: W100

Stabilization and Separation: LM200 • W200 • W250 • W300 • W315

Erosion Control: M404 • M706

Non Woven Geotextiles:

Drainage and Filtration: GT131 • GT135 • GT140 • GT142 • GT160 • GT170

Separation and Underlayment: GT180 • GT110 • GT112 • GT116

Asphalt Overlay: GC130 • GC140

Environmental Applications: GE110 • GE116 • GE140 • GE160 • GE170 • GE180

Natural Fiber Products:

Erosion Control - Sediment Control: Coir Silt Check • Coir Wattles • Soil Erosion Control Blankets and Mats

Soil Bio-Engineering: Coir Blocks • Coir Logs • Coir Weed Mats

View all Erosion Control Products

Physical Weathering:

Physical weathering and erosion can take place through any of the following processes:

Development of Joints: Joints are fractures or cracks found in the rock formed by expansion due to cooling or relief of pressure. The space they create allows other agents of weathering to enter and begin a deeper process.

Crystal Growth: Water containing ions percolates through fractures and form crystals that can expand and weaken the rocks.

Heat: Sudden exposure to high temperatures can cause expansion and eventual breakage of the rock.

Plant and Animal Activities: Plant roots can extend into fractures. This growth can cause expansion and further breakage. Animals can also break rock as the burrow or move through the cracks.

Frost Wedging: As water freezes, it expands exerting force on the fractures.

Do you have questions regarding weathering and erosion or our erosion control products like, coir, woven geotextiles, or non-woven geotextiles? Call our Granite Environmental Sales Team at (+1) 772-646-0597 or toll free at (888) 703-9889.

Chemical Weathering:

When rocks and minerals are created, they are formed under conditions that are present deep within the Earth. When they arrive at the surface, the conditions are drastically different than their origin. At the surface there is lower temperature, lower pressure, higher free water, and higher free oxygen. The minerals react with these new conditions and produce new minerals that are stable under the new conditions.

The main agents in chemical weathering reactions are water and the weak acids formed in that water, the most common being carbonic acid, which is produced in rainwater.

Types of Chemical Weathering:

Hydrolysis: H+ or OH- replaces an ion in the mineral.

Oxidation: Since free Oxygen is more common on the surface of the earth, it may react with minerals to change the oxidation state of an ion.

Leaching: Ions are removed by dissolution into water.

Dehydration: The removal of H2O or OH- ion from a mineral.

Complete Dissolution: All of the mineral is completely dissolved by the water.

Factors of Weathering and the Results:

Rock Type and Structure

Slope

Climate

Animals

Time

Weathering in rock usually starts at the surface and works inward. This can result in a variety of situations. Weathering Rinds are the outer weathered zone of rock. As weathering continues, the thickness of the weather rind increases. Exfoliation occurs when the concentrated shells of weathering become separated from the rock. Finally, Spheroidal Weathering takes place the rock fractures form a three-dimensional network. The rock is broken into cubes and begin to weather inward.

To learn more about erosion control products, visit our woven geo textile and non woven fabric web pages.

Become an Erosion Control "Expert"!

Don't let your knowledge erode! Soak up the ins and out of erosion control and the geotextile products used.

Brush Up on the Types of Erosion:

Beach Erosion • Coastal Erosion • Soil Erosion • Water Erosion •
Wind Erosion • River Bank Erosion • Weathering and Erosion

Learn About the Causes and Solutions:

Causes of Soil Erosion • Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion • River Bank Protection • Erosion Control Netting • Erosion Control Woven Geotextile • Erosion Control Non Woven Fabric

Master the Specifics of Geotextiles:

Geotextile Fabric Overview • Geotextile Material Selection • Geotextile Application • Geotextile Types • Skit Film • Geotextile Functions • Geotextile Testing • Geotextile Comparison • Geotextile Installation • Geotextile Certification • Geotextile DOT Information • Geotextile AASHTO Information • Geotextile Fabric for Dirt Roads

Geotextiles by Propex®:

Turf Reinforcement Mats:
Pyramat® • Landlok® 450 • Landlok® 1051 • Landlok® 300

Civil:
Geotex® 311 • Geotex® 351 • Geotex® 401 • Geotex® 451 • Geotex® 501 • Geotex® 601 • Geotex® 701 • Geotex® 801 • Geotex® 1001 • Geotex® 1071 • Geotex® 1201 • Geotex® 1601

Environmental:
Geotex® 651 • Geotex® 861 • Geotex® 1071 • Geotex® 1291 • Geotex® 1701

Paving Products:
Petromat® 4597 • Petromat® 4598 • Petromat® 4599 • Petrotac® 4591

Separation and Stabilization:
Geotex® 135ST • Geotex® 200ST • Geotex® 250ST • Geotex® 270ST • Geotex® 315ST

Filtration and Monofilament:
Geotex® 104F • Geotex® 111F • Geotex® 117F

Biaxial Soil Reinforcement:
Geotex® 2 x 2 HF • Geotex® 3 x 3 HF • Geotex® 4 x 4 • Geotex® 4 x 4 HF • Geotex® 4 x 6

Uniaxial Soil Reinforcement:
Geotex® 4 x 1 • Geotex® 6 x 1 • Geotex® 9 x 1 • Geotex® 12 x 1

Silt Fence:
Geotex® 2130

Questions about products for weathering and erosion? Our Granite Environmental sales team would be happy to support you.

Call (+1) 772-646-0597 or toll free at (888) 703-9889 to discuss your weathering and erosion requirements or click on the chat button below for immediate response within our office hours (mon - fri, 8 am - 5 pm EST).

View Our Erosion Control Product Pages:

Geotextiles • Geotextile Tubes • Geogrids • Geomembranes
Non Woven Fabrics • Coir Geotextiles • Coir Logs