The weathering and (trans)formation of rocks and minerals caused by caused by physico-chemical changes that occur in bedrocks due to salt crystallization, freezing-thaw, thermal shock, influence of water, wind, temperature or any type of environmental agent together with the activities of organic, or living, substances and organisms are among the most permanent and noteworthy processes occurring in the Earth’s lithosphere and pedosphere. The term weathering refers to the processes that change the physical and chemical character of rock and mineral at or near the surface. The term bioweathering arise from the participation of biota able to interact with minerals, metals, metalloids and organic compounds through biophysical and biochemical processes.

This session addresses weathering of rocks and the methods and destructive and non-destructive techniques to measure these weathering processes and development of soils, in-situ in the field or through experimental works in the laboratory and the role in bioweathering processes of living organisms, with special attention to bacteria, fungi (included lichens and mycorrhizal symbioses) and plants, emphasizing their deteriorative potential on rock, building stone and mineral surfaces, their involvement in the formation and transformation of primary and secondary minerals, and their contribution to soil formation and functioning.

The following examples would be suitable topics for this session: (i) Case studies on in-situ monitoring of quantification of decay on soils and rocks from natural landscapes (mountains, cliffs, caves, etc) or from urban environment (foundations or facades of buildings, retaining walls, etc) or laboratory experimental works, such as accelerated ageing tests performed on specimens of these materials; (ii) Destructive and Non-destructive techniques and characterization analyses to assess their morphological, physico-chemical, mechanical and hydric weathering; (iii) Consolidation products or methods to stop or to slow down their weathering; (iv) Durability and stability of soils and rocks; (v) the role of decomposer organisms in biogeochemical cycling of mineral nutrients and essential metals (e.g. K, Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co and Ni) and in the mobilization and immobilization of non-essential elements (e.g. Cs, Al, Cd, Hg and Pb).

We invite a broad range of contributions that investigate physico-chemical and biological weathering processes in aerial, sub-aerial and subsoil environments (including rhizosphere) and/or their implications for durability, geochemical cycles and adaptation to environmental changes and degraded lands.

Solicited speaker: William Purvis, w.purvis@nhm.ac.uk