The Earth Contents

4. Rock Cycle

There are a number of possible fates for the residual materials

The fate of the residual, partially weathered rock minerals, and the new alumino-silicate clays forming from them, can vary greatly depending on the weathering environment. In some cases the residues and the new clays may remain on land to constitute a soil, and in others they may be transported by rivers into the oceans. The journey into the oceans may involve many intermediate resting places, such as flood plains and mud flats, often for prolonged periods and particles are often combined into soils. The particulates found at these intermediate depositional sites reflect a number of factors. For example, river velocity affects the maximum size of a solid particle which can be transported, so that faster flows tend to correlate with higher sediment loads.

There are a number of possible fates for the residual materials.

What are the possible fates for residual partially weather rock minerals and the new alumino-silicate clays forming from them?