Question

Exfoliation is a process in ___________.
A. chemical weathering
B. biological weathering
C. mechanical weathering
D. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Rocks and minerals are broken up by mechanical methods. There is no change in their chemical composition. Physical weathering turns a large mass of rock into smaller parts that are more easily transported and eroded. Rocks can break for a variety of reasons, including stress along with natural areas of weakness and due to biological and chemical activity.

Complete Step by step answer:
  Even massive rocks tend to crack along natural zones of weakness. Some of the most common are bedding planes in sedimentary rocks, exfoliation in metamorphic rocks, and joints in massive igneous rocks. Through uplift and erosion, the rock rises slowly to the Earth’s surface, where they are free from the weight of overlying rock; thus, their fractures will open slightly. This allows chemical and physical weathering to widen the cracks.
Exfoliation is a mechanism in which large flat or curved sheets of rock are broken and separated from the outcrop due to the release of pressure: when erosion removes the overburden from the rock formed at high pressure deep in the earth's crust, it causes the rock to expand, resulting in cracks and fractures along the sheet joints parallel to the erosion surface.
Spheroidal weathering is often a method of cracking and dividing curved layers from a normally spherical boulder, albeit on a much smaller scale. It happens when a rectangular block is weathered at the corners on three sides and at the edges on two sides. It is also known as "onion skin" weathering and is closely related to chemical weathering.
Repeated heating and cooling exerts stress on the outer layers of the rocks, which can cause the outer layers to peel off in thin sheets. The peeling process is also called exfoliation and is a mechanical process. Over time, rock sheets break away from exposed rocks along fractures, a process known as exfoliation. Exfoliation due to the release of pressure is also known as "sheeting" Removal of the overlying ice can also lead to exfoliation due to the release of pressure.

Thus, the answer is option C: mechanical weathering

Note: The living organism can affect chemical and physical weathering. The operation of species occupying cracks creates acids, which then encourages chemical weathering and the development of microcracks. The strength of the growing root system can also help to open cracks and fractures.