1. Chemical Weathering: This involves the decomposition of rocks due to chemical reactions between rock minerals, water and some atmospheric gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. The main types of chemical reactions are:
   1. Hydration: This is the absorption of water by rock minerals.
   2. Oxidation: This is when oxygen is taken up by a mineral compound.
   3. Carbonation: this is when hydrogen carbonate ions combine with a mineral to give a soluble compound which can then be carried away in solution.
   4. Solution: The solution of soluble minerals e.g. limestone in rocks.
   5. Hydrolisis: The reaction between the hydrogen ions in water and some metal ions.
2. Mechanical Weathering:
   1. Temperature changes causing expansion and contraction of rocks.
   2. Freezing of water--frost action.
   3. Wetting and Drying

Factors Influencing the Character and Rate of Weathering

• Climate
  • The greater the amount of rainfall the higher the rate of chemical weathering.
  • Temperature changes accelerate the rate of mechanical weathering.
• The nature of the parent rock.
• Vegetation cover
• The gradient of the slope
• Time
• Man's activities

Mass Wasting

Factors Affecting the Speed of Mass Wasting

• The nature of the material
• The angle of the slope
• Vegetation cover
• Earthquakes
• Mans activities

Main Types of Mass Wasting

1. Soil Creep: This is the downward movement of soil
2. Mudflow: When continued heavy rainfall turns the soil into a semi-liquid state.
3. Landslide: When large quantities of loosened surface rocks slide down a steep slope.
4. Rockfall: When rocks fall off a steep cliff

Other Notes in this Category

1. Action of Ice
2. Deserts
3. Folding
4. Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
5. The action of rivers
6. Vulcanicity and Landforms
7. Weathering
8. Work of Ice

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