Nanoscale: Mineral Weathering Boundary

This chapter presents the first overview of the connection between nanoscale weathering and geomorphology, where three overarching themes recur. First, nanoscale processes are on one side of a fundamental threshold between the coarser microscale (micrometers and up) and the finer nanoscale with its dramatically different molecular dynamics. Second, nanoscale processes do impact a variety of prior geomorphic research, including threads related to ongoing instability in mineral weathering, silt production, rock coating behavior, geochemical pollution, thermal weathering from wildfires, and biotic weathering as an explanation for deviations from Goldich's weathering series. Third, it is possible to link the nanoscale to more classic geomorphic concerns through scaling up quantitatively by digital image processing of microscope imagery and conceptually through connections to weathering forms such as rock splintering.