Solution weathering may be clearer in which rock or mineral?

Correct answer: Rock salt

The direct answer is B, rock salt. Solution weathering occurs when water dissolves soluble minerals and carries the dissolved material away. Rock salt is made mainly of halite, a mineral that dissolves readily in water, so water can remove it relatively easily. Step by step: water reaches the mineral; the soluble mineral goes into solution; flowing water transports the dissolved substance; the rock gradually loses material. Option A, granite, contains several minerals, including quartz and feldspar, but it is not as readily dissolved as rock salt. Option B is correct because salt is highly soluble and therefore a clear example of solution weathering. Option C, basalt, is a volcanic rock that can undergo chemical weathering, but it is not the best example of easy dissolution among these choices. Option D, quartzite, is rich in quartz, which is relatively resistant to weathering and does not dissolve readily in ordinary water. Gypsum can also show solution weathering, but it is not listed. Memory cue: soluble minerals such as salt are removed by solution.