Mining Paper 2 May/June 2015

Question 6

Name four processes of physical weathering.

Observation

This was a compulsory question that was correctly answered by most of the candidates and they scored high marks.  A few of the candidates however could not get the correct answer. The required points were:

  • freezing and thawing (Frost shattering);
  • exfoliation(onion bulb weathering)/pressure release sheet weathering;
  • salt crystallization/salt crystal growth;
  • alternate wetting and drying;
  • spheroidal weathering.