Significance of heterogeneous rocks lithology for relief development

Abstract

A dike of more resistant to weathering rocks can be either exposed or covered with regolith, it depends on the ratio of weathering rate y to erosion rate D. The dike form is determined for a stationary case. If the dike l meter thick outcrops its height H is defined by equation H≈lD/2γ; the equation can be used to estimate indirectly the solid rocks weathering rate. Measurement of quartz porphyry dikes at the southern Far East of the USSR is in qualitative agreement with the calculations.