Question

What type of weathering can ice wedging cause?
Neither mechanical nor chemical
Only mechanical

Answer 1

Ice wedging primarily causes **mechanical weathering**. This process occurs when water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands as it turns into ice. The expansion exerts pressure on the surrounding rock, causing the rock to fracture and break apart over time. Since this process does not involve any chemical change in the minerals of the rock, it is classified as mechanical weathering.