The chemical weathering of rocks such as basalt produces a “rind” of altered minerals that increases in thickness the longer the rock has been exposed. Although the rate of weathering varies from location to location (especially due to differences in climate), the thickness of the weathering rind can offer a rough estimate of how long a rock has been exposed to weathering—the thicker the rind, the longer the rock as been exposed. One study found that the thickness of the weathering rind increased by about 0.007 millimeters for every 1000 years of exposure. Assuming a constant rate of weathering (a simplistic assumption), estimate how long the rocks have been exposed to weathering if the: a. Weathering rind is 0.5 mm thick = _____ years of exposure b. Weathering rind is 1.5 mm thick = _____ years of exposure
The chemical weathering of rocks such as basalt produces a “rind” of altered minerals that increases in thickness the longer the rock has been exposed. Although the rate of weathering varies from location to location (especially due to differences in climate), the thickness of the weathering rind can offer a rough estimate of how long a rock has been exposed to weathering—the thicker the rind, the longer the rock as been exposed. One study found that the thickness of the weathering rind increased by about 0.007 millimeters for every 1000 years of exposure. Assuming a constant rate of weathering (a simplistic assumption), estimate how long the rocks have been exposed to weathering if the: a. Weathering rind is 0.5 mm thick = _____ years of exposure b. Weathering rind is 1.5 mm thick = _____ years of exposure
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