What is the term for the general process by which rocks are broken down at the Earth's surface? All the types of weathering often go hand in hand. erosion B.) Research Mammoth Cave in Kentucky to find out more about how this cave formed. Caves form most commonly as a result of mechanical weathering of rocks. Furthermore, part of the granite was extensively weathered by chemical alteration along joints, so that it consisted of rounded and angular ,?orestones separated by saprolite.