Consider the following statements : 1. Weathered rock with change of volume is called saprolite. 2. The process of landscape formation by deep weathering followed by stripping of the saprolite is called etching. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is incorrect because saprolite is defined as chemically weathered rock that is formed through isovolumetric alteration [1]. This means the rock retains its original lithic fabric and volume despite the loss of mass through chemical dissolution [2]. Statement 2 is correct as it describes the 'etching' process in geomorphology. Etching involves the deep chemical weathering of bedrock to produce a thick mantle of saprolite, which is subsequently removed or 'stripped' by erosive agents [2]. This stripping of the weathered mantle exposes the underlying irregular weathering front, creating distinctive landforms such as tors or inselbergs [2]. The resulting landscape is often referred to as an etchplain. Therefore, while saprolite maintains the parent rock's structure without volume change, the landscape formation process involving its removal is accurately termed etching.

Sources

1. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/saprolite
2. [2] https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aao0834