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Erosion identification and geology

The physical removal and transport of weathered rock and soil material from one location to another by natural agents including water, wind, ice, and gravity. Erosion is distinct from weathering, which breaks down rock in place without transport. The rate and style of erosion depend on climate, slope, vegetation cover, rock type, and tectonic activity. Field: geomorphology. Example: The Grand Canyon was carved by the erosive power of the Colorado River over approximately 5–6 million years, cutting through nearly 2 billion years of rock record.. Related terms: Weathering, Denudation, Transport, Deposition.

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  • Weathering
  • Denudation

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:41.999576+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Erosion mean in geology?
The physical removal and transport of weathered rock and soil material from one location to another by natural agents including water, wind, ice, and gravity. Erosion is distinct from weathering, which breaks down rock in place without transport. The rate and style of erosion depend on climate, slope, vegetation cover, rock type, and tectonic activity.
What is an example of Erosion?
The Grand Canyon was carved by the erosive power of the Colorado River over approximately 5–6 million years, cutting through nearly 2 billion years of rock record.
Which earth-science field uses the term Erosion?
Erosion is used in geomorphology.
Which terms are related to Erosion?
Related terms in this reference are Weathering, Denudation, Transport, Deposition.

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