Final answer:
Leaching of nutrient minerals from rocks (E) is NOT associated with biological weathering because it is a chemical process, not one directly facilitated by living organisms like the other options provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which option is NOT associated with biological weathering. Biological weathering is a process where living organisms contribute to the weathering of rocks. This can happen through various means such as the formation of rock joints (A), disintegration of rock by burrowing animals (B), expansion of rock cracks by tree roots (C), and flaking of rock particles because of lichens present (D). Each of these contributes to the breakdown of rocks and is associated with biological factors influencing soil formation and structure.
However, option (E) leaching of nutrient minerals from rocks, while a natural process that affects soil composition and rock decomposition, is not typically categorized under biological weathering. Instead, it falls under chemical weathering processes, which involve the chemical breakdown or alteration of the rock structure due to factors like water, acids, and oxygen. In biological weathering, the direct impact of organisms is necessary, which is not the case with the leaching of minerals.