Salt weathering
Also called: Salt crystallisation · Topic: Geomorphic Processes: Weathering, Mass Movement, Erosion and Soil Formation · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Geomorphic Processes"
Meaning
Salt weathering is a type of physical weathering. Water carrying dissolved salts seeps into tiny pores in rock. As the water evaporates, the salts crystallise and grow. The growing crystals expand and push grains apart. Over time the rock surface crumbles or peels. It is common in hot deserts, where evaporation is strong. It is also common on coasts, where sea spray brings salt. Salt weathering is one of the causes of exfoliation (the peeling off of curved rock sheets).
Example
Rocks along the dry, salty Rann of Kutch in Gujarat crumble as salt crystals grow in their pores.
Don't confuse with
- Frost weathering: it uses ice, not salt, to wedge rock apart. It works in cold places, not hot dry ones.
Related concepts
- Physical weathering
- Unloading
- Thermal expansion and contraction
- Frost weathering
- Biological weathering