Examine the diagram above and answer each of the following questions - Leaving Cert Geography - Question 1A - 2018

The horizontal lines at C are called Bedding planes. These are the layers of sedimentary rock that indicate the deposition of materials over time.

The vertical lines at D are referred to as Joints. Joints are fractures in the rock that occur due to stress and are critical for the movement of water.

Two processes of chemical weathering are:

1. Hydrolysis - the reaction between minerals and water leading to the formation of clay.
2. Carbonation - the reaction of carbonic acid with minerals, particularly calcium carbonate in limestone, which leads to dissolution.

Taking Hydrolysis as an example, this process involves the reaction of water with the minerals present in the rock. For instance, feldspar in granite reacts with water to form kaolinite, a type of clay. This not only transforms the mineral structure but also leads to the breakdown of rock, contributing to soil formation.

The ground water table refers to the upper level of saturated soil and rock in which all voids are filled with water. This table fluctuates based on factors such as rainfall, drought, and human extraction of groundwater, impacting the availability of water in wells and affecting ecosystems.