Tutorial:Soil Weathering

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Weathering
Not only is weathering important in weakening rocks and sediments against erosion, it is also a significant in-situ soil process as it produces the soil forming parent materials for all soil types.

In most environments water is the critical agent of chemical weathering attacking minerals through hydrolysis, hydration]and acid decomposition, and removing soluble products. Other significant weathering processes include oxidation and reduction. These are particularly important in determining soil colour. In waterlogged soils where reduction is dominant colours are typically grey. Whilst in hot, dry climates, oxidation is dominant and deep red colours develop.

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