Krisma

Krisma refers to a geological term describing the process of rock and mineral breakdown. This breakdown can occur through both physical and chemical means. Physical weathering involves the mechanical disintegration of rocks into smaller pieces. Examples include frost wedging, where water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and widens the fissures, and abrasion, where rocks are worn down by friction with other rocks or sediment. Thermal expansion and contraction due to temperature changes can also contribute to physical weathering.

Chemical weathering, on the other hand, involves the alteration of the chemical composition of rocks and minerals. This often happens when rocks are exposed to water, oxygen, or acidic substances. Hydration, for instance, is the absorption of water into a mineral's structure, which can cause it to swell and weaken. Oxidation, common in iron-bearing minerals, leads to the formation of rust and a weaker compound. Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, which can react with minerals like calcite, causing them to dissolve. Biological weathering, a category that can encompass both physical and chemical processes, involves the actions of living organisms, such as plant roots growing into cracks or the production of acids by microorganisms. The combined effects of these weathering processes shape the Earth's surface over geological timescales.