What is formed as a result of frost wedging?

Frost wedging is a physical weathering process that occurs when water infiltrates cracks in rocks and then freezes. As the water freezes, it expands, generating pressure within the rock. This cycle of freezing and thawing can lead to the widening of existing cracks and the eventual breaking apart of the rock.

The result of this process is often cracked rock, characterized by an accumulation of fractures that develop as the ice expands. Over time, this can lead to significant fragmentation of the rock material, resulting in separate pieces or debris. This would be distinctly visible and is a hallmark of frost wedging.

In contrast, exfoliation domes are a feature created by the release of pressure in massive rock formations, leading to the peeling of layers rather than cracking. Rounded boulders are typically a result of other processes such as water erosion smoothing surfaces rather than the freezing action associated with frost wedging. Heaved soil may occur through different mechanisms, such as freeze-thaw cycles impacting the soil layer overall, but it doesn’t necessarily involve the direct cracking of the rock itself.

Thus, cracked rock accurately describes the result of frost wedging, highlighting the physical alteration of the rock structure due to the stresses induced by freezing water.