mass wasting of rocks

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In regards to mass wasting, what is a rockfall

-- nick mazzeo (mazzcreek39@aol.com), May 03, 2001

Answers

A rockfall is when newly detached individual blocks plummet suddenly in free fall from a cliffor steep mountainside. These angular blocks are broken from outcrop bychemical and physical weathering and erosion. Weathering weakens the bedrock along joints until the slightest pressure, often exerted by the expansion of water as it freezes in a crack, is enough to trigger the rockfall.

-- Joseph T. Sterbank (linus112@aol.com), May 03, 2001.

According to the book on page 239, a rockfall is when newly detached individual blocks of rock plummet suddenly in free fall from a cliff or steep mountainside. The fallen rocks must have had a weak bond to the mountainside due to weathering.

-- Alison Tripi (tripi@oswego.edu), May 03, 2001.

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