Some rocks and minerals are not stable at the surface because they:
A) are exposed to water
B) formed in high-temperature environments
C) formed in high-pressure environments
D) are exposed to oxygen
E) all of these

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of these factors contribute to the instability of certain rocks and minerals at the surface. Exposure to water and oxygen can lead to chemical weathering, while rocks and minerals formed under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions deep within the Earth may not be stable under the drastically different conditions at the surface.

Some Rocks and Minerals Are Not Stable at the Surface