Weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller fragments due to exposure to atmospheric conditions and biological activity.

Frost wedging is a physical weathering process in which water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, expands, and breaks the rock apart.

Erosion is the process by which weathered materials are transported from one location to another by wind, water, ice, or gravity.

Water is a powerful erosional agent that can carve out deep canyons and valleys over time.

Deposition is the process by which eroded materials are deposited in a new location, such as a river delta or a beach.

A river delta is a depositional environment where sediments are deposited by flowing water as it enters a larger body of water.

Metamorphism is the process by which rocks are changed from one type to another due to heat, pressure, or chemical reactions.

Marble is a metamorphic rock that is formed from the alteration of limestone due to heat and pressure.

Igneous activity is the process by which molten rock from the Earth's interior rises to the surface and cools, forming igneous rocks.

Basalt is an igneous rock that is formed from the cooling of lava on the Earth's surface.

Deformation is the process by which rocks are folded, faulted, and uplifted due to tectonic forces.

Plate tectonics is a tectonic force that can cause deformation of rocks as plates move and interact with each other.

Biological weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller fragments due to the action of living organisms, such as plants and animals.

Root wedging is a biological weathering process in which plant roots grow into cracks in rocks, causing the rocks to break apart.

Lithification is the process by which sediments are compacted and cemented together to form sedimentary rocks.