The minerals that are present in the landforms can be attributed to deposition. Deposition is the accumulation of materials, which are loose sediments and or minerals which are laid down through natural agents.
The natural agents that aids in this deposition can come as ice, water, wind, etc.
The natural process would likely be weathering because the natural process of wearing away something little by little is what weathering means. - my answer
weathering :
wear away or change the appearance or texture of (something) by long exposure to the air. - dictionary.com
Rationalism led to the use of empiricism, or observation, in science. Francis Bacon invented the scientific method based on rationalism. It also lessened overbearing religious dogma
