Weathering breaks down rocks and minerals near Earth's surface through mechanical and chemical processes. Mechanical weathering physically breaks rocks into smaller pieces through frost wedging, thermal expansion and contraction, exfoliation, and abrasion by wind, water, or plant growth. Chemical weathering alters the chemical composition of rocks through dissolving, oxidation, and hydrolysis. Erosion transports weathered materials from their source through agents like water, wind, ice, and gravity, depositing sediments that form new rock layers over time.