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Exfoliation as a process of mechanical weathering

Answer Text:
Exfoliation as a process of mechanical weathering

- Peeling off of layers of rocks.
- Also common in arid areas.
- Day, rock surface is heated more than inner layers because rocks are poor conductors of heat.
- The surface expands more than inner layers causing strain between
the two layers.
- With time outer layer develops cracks and later peels off and pieces of rocks fall down under gravity e.g. along Mombasa-Nairobi road between Mtito Andei and Voi.
- The peeling off of rock surface is known as exfoliation
- Exfoliation of a huge rock mass results into a dome like structure