Chemical Weathering in Arizona
January 18, 2016
Photographer: Dale Chadwick
Summary Author: Dale Chadwick
The photo above shows an example of chemical weathering in rocks along a road cut on Route 60 in the Salt River Canyon of Arizona. On the south side of the canyon a homogeneous igneous rock (diabase) is exposed. This rock has been chemically weathered by water seeping into its cracks and joints. At the top of the top photo, note that there's almost none of the original rock left while at the bottom most of the original rock is still intact. However, weathering has left conspicuously rounded corners. The bottom photo is a close-up showing the exfoliation that's a result of this type of chemical weathering. Photos taken on August 6, 2014.