Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?

A) The quartz in the gabbro and basalt decomposes very quickly.

B) The ferromagnesian minerals in the gabbro and basalt are subject to oxidation and chemical breakdown.

C) The plagioclase feldspars in the granite and rhyolite decompose readily to clay minerals and iron oxides.

D) The potassium feldspars and quartz in the rhyolite and granite are more susceptible to cracking by frost wedging.

Question

Geography

Ben Monroe

11 October, 07:51

Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?

A) The quartz in the gabbro and basalt decomposes very quickly.

B) The ferromagnesian minerals in the gabbro and basalt are subject to oxidation and chemical breakdown.

C) The plagioclase feldspars in the granite and rhyolite decompose readily to clay minerals and iron oxides.

D) The potassium feldspars and quartz in the rhyolite and granite are more susceptible to cracking by frost wedging.

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Answers (1)

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Wallace · Answer 1

Answer: the answer is B

Explanation: where Gabbro is a plutonic rock that cools slowly at depth basalt is a volcanic rock, fine grained and cools rapidly on earth Surface, but they both contain abundant dark coloured feromagnesia minerals.