Which will experience more weathering? A rock in the Sahona esert, in southernArizona, or in North Carolina?
100895
The Sonoran Desert is the hottest of North American deserts. Rainfall averages about 12 inches per year, primarily in the winter from storms that come in off the Pacific Ocean. Daytime temperatures in the summer can be over 100 F. on most days. Daily temperature fluctuations are typically about 30 degrees F. There are freezing temperatures in the winter.\n\nThe weathering forces that will be active in the Sonora will be wind abrasion, differential erosion, thermal exfoliation, chemical weathering, freeze expansion, tectonic jointing (the area is an extensional regime- you might want to read the paper from Caltech which describes this), and stress relief exfoliation. Gradient is a contributing factor, but since we are comparing hypothetical rocks, that will have to be ignored. The main factors are likely to be thermal exfoliation, and chemical weathering. Freeze expansion will play a smaller role, and wind abrasion, while fierce at times, is also likely to be minor. \n\nNorth Carolina is more difficult to describe, because it has several climate zones. Annual temperature range for the state appears to be about 10 F. to 90 F. On high mountains the average high temperature is only about 68 F. Daily temperature fluctuations are about 20 degrees in mountain areas, and only 10-15 degrees in coastal areas. Annual precipitation for the state varies from 37 inches to 55 inches according to location. Average humidity is probably around 75%. Only 126 days per year have clear skies, and measurable rain falls about 120 days per year. \n\nPrimary weathering process in North Carolina will be freeze-thaw, chemical exfoliation, stress relief exfoliation, differential weathering, thermal exfoliation, and biological weathering from plants and trees. Freeze expansion, chemical exfoliation from frequent rainfall, and biological weathering are likely to be the largest factors. \n\nIt is almost impossible to come to a conclusion about "a rock" since different rocks react to different weathering processes in dissimilar ways. Southern Arizona has significant amounts of sandstone, as well as granites and basalt. North Carolina is mostly a metamorphic terrain with some sedimentary and igneous rocks. My opinion is that North Carolina will have more weathering, but for reasons that might surprise you. I think the trees and plants in North Carolina will have the greatest effect, both by root expansion and by acidifying soils causing more chemical weathering. If not for the vegetation I would have to say Arizona would have more weathering from thermal exfoliation. Chemical exfoliation can also be severe in deserts because of condensation and evaporation in the daily cycle, and desert moisture often deposits and leaches salts out of rocks. Rainfall in North Carolina may actually depress the chemical exfoliation because the frequent rainfall will remove salts immediately. The cloudy days and lower daily temperature fluctuations will cause much less thermal exfoliation in North Carolina. \n\nI don’t think there is really a correct answer to this question because it is too vague. Without comparing specific rock types, and specific locales, there are too many variables to make any valid conclusion.
442695
http://www.pubs.asce.org/WWWdisplay.cgi?9605225\nSaprolite is a rare find in our area.  We've found it in a few parking lots, and we can buy it from only a few dealers.\n\nSaprolite is also called "rotten granite" -- it really is granite that's been partially changed by thousands or millions of years of weathering. \n\nhttp://saltthesandbox.org/rocks/saprolite.htm\n\nProperties\n1.Saprolite forms when granite and other igneous and \nmetamorphic rocks are exposed to humid climates for \nthousands or millions of years. \n2.Saprolite is mostly reddish in color.\n3.Its crystals are usually pea-sized or smaller\n4.it started out as granite\n5.Is made mostly of the minerals feldspar and quartz, and may also contain small crystals of mica or darker minerals.
393924
It depends on your location of course.\n\nArdent is right. For the Southeastern U.S. & the Caribbean, Africa is the leading source.\n\nDust from the arid regions gets into the upper atmosphere & is carried by the trade winds across the Atlantic.\n\nI had a prof tell us once that while doing research he found sands that originated off of the continent of Africa. I think that is too cool. :)\n\nAlso, depending on eruptions of volcanoes, dust and ash particles can be sent way up into the upper atmosphere & travel around the world. When large eruptions occur, these particles can stay suspended in the atmosphere for days & weeks. This, in turn, can affect the climate by cooling things down.
236341
As I recall, Nevada has no special or extra ordinary geological heapening. \n\nIf it has any please do not go to my reply. \nYou need to read the relevant text books or special papers/articles on the subject.\n\nI consider its study will go like a general study of mountain formation and vally formation.\n\nNevada basin and mountain range is likely to be like others.\nIn the first step volcanic eruption forms the igneious rock. Foulding and faulting develops its later features and erosion helps in forming the vally.
653584
I did not even know that states had a "state mineral" until this made me look into it, but sure enough... Not every state has a state mineral, or rock, but Alaska has both. Mineral: Gold.  Rock: Jade. Seems kind of silly to me. What's next, a state smell? My state's smell would be squashed skunk, I think.
514927
Better weather in SA????
193598
well, there is the theory of plate tectonics which tells us that the earth's crust is comprised of plates that converge, spread, subduct,  and slide with one another.  This is the main culprit of orogeny, which is mountain building.  Then you have to consider weathering which is performed mainly by wind and water, ie..rivers, lakes, streams, ocean currents and tides.  Once that has taken place erosion takes effect and carries the weathered material away and deposits it somewhere else.
5628
hell no, it looks like new mexico but with slightly MORE sand
415974
Burrels Ford is a great area for camping and hiking this area also includes liclog falls which is one of my favorite spots. it should be right around the border between NC and SC but youd have to look it up.
788229
This should lead you to what you want.\n\nhttp://www.infoplease.com/atlas/state/northcarolina.html\n\nsomething like this (is within the links)\nhttp://www.infoplease.com/tv/printables/kt_maps/kt_map_nc_geog.pdf
740251
It depends on the climate. I think the Petrified forest in America is in Arizona or New Mexico, I been there it been about 10 years ago. There it a Drier Desert type climate with more sand and over many, many years the wood Petrified. In Arkansas where there more rain and trees and Dirt, wood just rot and termites eat it.
1130160
The most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal settings is silica (silicon dioxide), usually in the form of quartz which because of its chemical inertness and considerable hardness is quite resistant to weathering. However, the composition of sand varies according to local rock sources and conditions.
530236
10.= C -LOOK AT A NATURAL SPONGE.  11.= B-LARGE AREA ERODES FASTER AS IT HAS MORE SURFACE. IF GRANITE WEATHERED FAST HALF OUR NATIONAL MONUMENTS WOULD BE GONE. 12.=C. 13.=D. 14.=B. 15.=A.
723318
Wearing away of rock by means of mechanical or chemical processes.\n\nMechanical weathering is the actual physical breaking apart of rock into smaller pieces.\n\nChemical weathering is the change of rock from one substance into a new or multiple new substances.\n\nMechanical weathering aids chemical & vice versa.
526792
Contact Mitchell Colgan (Geology Department Head) at the College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina at:\n\ncolganm@cofc.edu\n\nIf you do, tell him Jim sent you.
376142
Stream beds change due to sediment load that it carries & amount of water. They can meander or cut deeper into their bed. Oxbow lakes can form when meanders are cut off from the rest of the stream.\n\nRocks weather by wind & water. Self explanatory. Rock is removed by the wind & water and redeposited somewhere else as sediment.\n\nShorelines can either build up or erode depending on where they are located. Hurricanes can wash away shorelines or build them up too. Depending on how intense the storm is & amount of storm surge/ high tide or low tide, etc. Barrier islands are constantly changing. They move further inland during transgressions & move back out again during regressions. Hurricane can also close or open new inlets along barrier islands. Many of NC's barrier inlets have been closed & reopened by major hurricanes over the past couple hundred years.\n\nKarst topography. Areas w/ limestone bedrock will form sinkholes where the limestone is dissolved by naturally forming acids. This occurs especially where too much water is pumped out from these limestone aquifers. You can get sinkholes & sinkhole lakes/ponds. Lots of these in Florida.
1110263
Weathering is the process of disintegration of rocks, soils and their minerals through natural, chemical, and biological processes. It is not to be confused with erosion, which is the movement of rocks and/or weathering products by water, wind, ice or gravity.