Find a term from the labs, understand the process behind it, and see how it appears in the landscape. Each entry connects an explanation with a real observation and a model you can explore.
Term
Mechanical weathering
Also written: Physical weathering
The physical breakdown of rock into smaller pieces without changing its mineral composition. Frost action and expansion or unloading can contribute. The fragments remain near their source until erosion transports them away.
What to look for
Blockfield on Foel Fras, Wales. Physical weathering breaks bedrock into angular fragments without changing its minerals.