Weathering Of Granite Rock

The reaction of feldspar minerals in granite with rainwater produces kaolinite white clay known as china clay used in the production of porcelain paper and glass.

Weathering of granite rock.

Chemical weathering is the breakdown of rock induced by reactions between rock minerals and groundwater. Chemical weathering mostly depends on the rock type and temperature. Description of weathering in rocks due to the effect of weathering there occurs an overall change in the engineering properties of rock mass. For instance limestone is more prone to chemical erosion compared to granite.

Various researchers engineers and geologists 4 6 12 16 26 32 have tried to do. For example the dartmoor granite was emplaced around 280 million years ago with the cover rocks eroded away soon afterwards exposing it to chemical and physical weathering processes. Breakdown of rock to depths of many metres induced by the chemical alteration of rock minerals by groundwater. If surface erosion is limited then weathering over thousands and hundreds of thousands of years reduces solid rock to a thick mantle of disintegrated rotten rock.

The resultant acid water from precipitation acid rain reacts with the rock s mineral particles producing new minerals and salts that can readily dissolve or wear away the rock grains. Hence from the engineering point of view it becomes very important to classify the weathering state of a rock mass.