Weathering is the breaking down of
rocks,
soil and
minerals as well as artificial materials through contact with the
Earth's atmosphere,
biota and waters. Weathering occurs
in situ, roughly translated to: "with no movement", and thus should not be confused with
erosion, which involves the movement of rocks and minerals by agents such as water, ice, snow, wind, waves and gravity and then being transported and deposited in other locations.