Soils (the breaking down process)

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  • Soils
    • Physical processes
      • Uneven heating of rock can cause the cracking and flaking of rock!
      • The expansion of water upon freezing. Rainwater enters cracks in the rock and as it freezes it expands and exerts pressure
      • Seas pounding and tides / rivers flowing , tumble rocks together, wearing them away.
      • Glaciers carrying boulders wear away underlying rocks as they flow over them.
    • Chemical process
      • Rainwater contains little dissolved carbon dioxide and is slightly acidic, this acid reacts with chemically with some rocks .e.g. limestone it gradually breaks down.
      • Some plants .e.g. Lichen produce acids which can cause rocks too wear away
    • Biological processes
      • Plant roots can penetrate into the ground into the cracks which break up rocks.
      • Actions of all soil organisms can break up rocks .e.g. worms

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