Granite versus limestone comparison notes 1) Characteristics (9m) 2) Weathering of the rocks (relates back to point 1 and causes

point 3) 3) Landforms associated [16m] Class: formation Limestone Sedimentary Non-clastic - Calcium from decomposition of marine organisms - Gaps filled in with mud and clay - Lithification: cementation and compaction and drying >50% generally calcite / calcium carbonate (carbonation and solution): homogenous (little regolith left behind) but pure limestone should be >90% 50-90%: impure limestone Calcite: natural cementing agent so not all rocks with calcite are limestones *Only for carboniferous limestone High secondary permeability - Bedding planes / joints / faults (selective weathering block disintegration) - Shrinkage joints: drying tensional (folding) / shear joints - Older: probability of experiencing tectonic forces Low primary permeability - Small pore spaces: water cannot penetrate through easily - Older: more compaction and cementation less pore spaces Hard (not prone to physical Granite Igneous (intrusive) (pressure release exfoliation) - Crystallisation of magma - Granitic (viscous) magma - Rock texture coarsegrained (phaneritic) because more time for crystals to grow before solidifies into rock Feldspar (hydrolysis clay), quartz (sand granular disintegration) (clay, sand and corestones due to spherodial weathering = residual debris): heterogenous (insolation weathering granular disintegration) (many types of elements) Mica, biotite High secondary permeability - Joints / faults (selective weathering block disintegration): sheet joints, shrinkage joints: during formation stage of rock cooling process during formation of granite Low primary permeability - Crystals close together and interlock during crystallization

Chemical compositi on

Rock structure

Physical

Hard (not prone to physical

hardness

weathering) compaction

weathering) feldspar and quartz hard minerals and interlock tightly

Words in red are how the characteristics link to weathering

Limestone landforms Tropical Closed Cockpit karst, tower karst depressi on Karren Pinnacles (spitzkarren) features Caves

Temperate Dolines, uvalas

Drainage

Limestone pavements (need glacial / lateral erosion) Less well-developed More well-developed (higher rainfall, but not (drizzle) much seeps in to form caves Stalagtite (more spread out) / enter ground. Most flow off to rivers) Stalagmite (more concentrated) Shallow holes (resurgence stream) + dry valleys + blind valleys *Cross question between geomo and hydro: drainage density falls because stream length falls but area of drainage still the same

Cockpit karst:

Cone

Cockpit Gullying / surface erosion Cave 200m plain If water table reached, then tower karsts protruding from water body

Tower karst: Cones

Granite landscape Etchplanation 1) Pluvial period (1000s of years) Wetter: higher rainfall Granite: breaks down to Slow regolith removal quartz, sand, clay, because dense corestones = residual vegetation: infiltration + debris percolation Fast regolith formation because rainfall amount high Regolith formation > regolith removal: accumulation of regolith Climate humid. Wet throughout whole year: no dry season. Similar to humid tropics. 2) Interpluvial period Former surface Etch plain Ruware Selective Basal surface weathering: weathering undulating due to different where joints depths of regolith: high are secondary + low primary concentrated permeability Regolith formation due to less rainfall, less chemical weathering < regolith removal because less vegetation: net loss of regolith Ruware: exposed part of basal surface of weathering Savanna Etch plain: isolated rock outcrop which rises abruptly from surrounding plain 3) Pluvial period + 4) Interpluvial period: repetition serves to increase height of ruware. If not cannot explain tall inselbergs.

Etch plain Former BSW

Pluvial period

Very little weathering at ruware, more weathering at sides 1) More joints 2) Shedding of water from ruware to sides 3 ) Regolith absorbs water vs solid rocks Former surface Regolit h remove d

Tall inselbergs