What process alters rocks to form new substances, such as kaolinite from granite?

The process that alters rocks to form new substances is chemical weathering. In this process, the minerals in rocks undergo chemical reactions that result in the transformation of the original materials into different mineral compounds. For example, granite, which primarily consists of quartz, feldspar, and mica, can be transformed through chemical weathering into kaolinite, a type of clay mineral, when feldspar reacts with acidic water.

Chemical weathering involves various chemical reactions, such as hydrolysis, oxidation, and carbonation, which enable the breakdown of minerals at the molecular level. This kind of weathering is essential in soil formation and nutrient cycling, as it contributes to the release of elements that can be reused by plants.

Physical weathering, on the other hand, involves the mechanical breakdown of rocks without changing their chemical composition. Biological weathering refers to the breakdown of rocks by living organisms, while mass wasting pertains to the movement of soil and rock down slopes due to gravity. These processes do not result in new mineral formations in the same way that chemical weathering does, which specifically alters the chemical structure of the rock.