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weathering — English
The chemical and/or mechanical breakdown of rocks and rock fragments to smaller particles or dissolved material. (See “erosion”.) Weathering takes place all over the world in all climates all the time. Mechanical weathering (disintegration) does not change the chemical composition of the weathering products so their chemical composition is still exactly the same as that of the rocks from which the fragments have originated. Chemical weathering (decomposition) involves chemical processes and the weathering products have different chemical compositions than the original rock. Weathering does not include the removal of the weathering debris. (See “erosion”.)
