Rock surface millimetre‐scale roughness and weathering of supratidal Mallorcan carbonate coasts (Balearic Islands)

Quantitative data on rock surface millimetre‐scale roughness are presented concerning the splash and spray geomorphologic domains of two coastal profiles developed on Mediterranean carbonate rocks. Differences of the roughness characteristics are attributed to rock properties, weathering agents and bioerosion. In the splash zone, roughness is related to sparsely distributed patterns of bioerosion, salt weathering and wave attack. In the spray zone, smooth surfaces seem to be the response to the solution processes that predominate, exerting a more homogenous influence on rock surface evolution. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative study on CO2 sources in soil developed on carbonate rock and non-carbonate rock in Central Guizhou

In this paper, by using concentration and carbon stable isotope the CO2 sources of soil profiles developed on limestone, dolostone and claystone basements in Central Guizhou, China are comparatively studied. The results show that CO2 concentration of soil profiles developed on different basements is different, having the following sequence: limestone>dolostone>claystone. Below the soil depth of 20 cm from the surface the ? 13C value of CO2 in soil profile developed on limestone ranges from -12.811‰ - -13.492‰(PDB), that in soil profile developed on dolostone varys from -13.212‰ - -14.271‰(PDB) and that in soil profile developed on claystone is about -20.234‰ - -21.485‰(PDB). Taking the carbon isotope of soil organic matter and carbonate rock as two isotopic endmembers, the proportion of soil CO2 generated by dissolution of carbonate rock is calculated, about 21%-25% for soil profile developed on limestone basement, 19%-21% for soil profile developed on dolostone basement. There is almost no influx of CO2 generated by the dissolution of carbonate rock in soil profile developed on claystone basement.     

Rock temperatures as an indicator of weathering processes affecting rock art

To aid rock art conservation, rock temperatures have been monitored at different depths and at low (30 min) and high (1 min) acquisition rates in a painted rock shelter in the uKhahlamba‐Drakensberg Park (South Africa). Preliminary data for winter (cold and dry) show that in that season cryoclasty is unlikely to occur (rare subzero thermal events and probable reduced moisture availability) and thermal shocks are improbable (highest measured ΔT/Δt < 2 °C min^?1). High amplitude (about 30 °C) rock temperature cycles accompanied by reversals of the thermal gradient have been observed to occur almost daily and hint at the possibility of thermal stress fatigue. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Linking weathering and rock slope instability: non‐linear perspectives

Weathering is linked complexly to the erosion and evolution of rock slopes. Weathering influences both the strength of rock slopes and the stresses that act upon them. While weathering has often been portrayed in an over‐simplified way by those studying rock slope instability, in reality it consists of multiple processes, acting over different spatial and temporal scales, with many complex inter‐linkages. Through a demonstration of the sources of non‐linearities in rock slope weathering systems and their implications for rock slope instability, this paper proposes five key linkages worthy of further study. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Migration and enrichment of trace elements of Lower Palaeozoic carbonate rock strata in Beijing

Analyses of trace elements of the Lower Palaeozoic carbonate rock strata in Beijing show that the contents of As, Hg, F increase from primary carbonate rocks to weathered carbonate rocks and from primary carbonate rocks to the soil coexisting with carbonate rocks, but the distribution regularity of S is not obvious. In the whole weathered stages, the sorption of As is mainly affected by Fe2O3. In soil Fe2O3 is also the main affecting factor of Hg enrichment. The main existing forms of Hg in primary carbonate rocks should simply be physical adsorption, coprecipitation and false isomorphous form between surface of carbonate rock and Hg. In soil the enrichment of F has little relationship with sul-fides and Fe2O3. In primary carbonate rocks, F is mainly absorbed by sulfides and clay minerals, etc. Weathered samples have closer genetic relationships with primary carbonate rocks. This also implies that weathered carbonate rocks have the close existing forms to that of primary carbonate rocks. In primary carbonate rocks FeS2 and FeS are the main forms of S, and sulfides have fixation effect on some heavy metals, whereas in weathered carbonate rocks and soil the fixation effect is weakened.     

Comparative study on CO2 sources in soil developed on carbonate rock and non-carbonate rock in Central Guizhou

In this paper, by using concentration and carbon stable isotope the CO₂ sources of soil profiles developed on limestone, dolostone and claystone basements in Central Guizhou, China are comparatively studied. The results show that CO₂ concentration of soil profiles developed on different basements is different, having the following sequence: limestone ; dolostone;claystone. Below the soil depth of 20 cm from the surface the δ₁₃ value of CO₂ in soil profile developed on limestone ranges from -12.811%. - -13.492%.(PDB), that in soil profile developed on dolostone varys from -13.212%. - -14.271%.(PDB) and that in soil profile developed on claystone is about-20.234%. - -21.485%.(PDB). Taking the carbon isotope of soil organic matter and carbonate rock as two isotopic endmembers, the proportion of soil CO₂ generated by dissolution of carbonate rock is calculated, about 21%–25% for soil profile developed on limestone basement, 19%–21% for soil profile developed on dolostone basement. There is almost no influx of CO₂ generated by the dissolution of carbonate rock in soil profile developed on claystone basement.     

地球物理方法在碳酸盐岩储层预测中的应用综

近年来,碳酸盐岩储层逐渐成为世界各国勘探的一个重点.本文结合碳酸盐岩的地球物理特征,简要介绍了目前在碳酸盐岩储层预测中应用的一些主要地球物理方法,探讨了各种方法的应用基础及限制条件,并分析了地球物理方法在碳酸盐岩储层预测方面的发展方向和趋势.     

The effects of fire on rock weathering: some further considerations of laboratory experimental simulation

Fire in the natural environment is a widespread agent of geomorphological and biological change. Temperatures can exceed 1000°C. There is often a rapid rise from ambient conditions through a steep thermal gradient, promoting rock disintegration. Laboratory simulation studies have established that temperature changes which are representative of natural fires affect rock material properties, which can then be related to weathering susceptibility. This study extends previous work by more closely replicating the natural environment, (a) through the simulation of rainfall and (b) by encasing samples to reflect the exposure of a single rock face to a passing fire event. Rock samples collected on Cyprus were prepared and tested following previously reported procedures. Change in modulus of elasticity was monitored using a non-destructive ultrasonic method. The data corroborate previous work but with somewhat different degrees of change. The new results are more likely to be representative of natural conditions and real-world change. The rate of rock disintegration and effects such as case-hardening appear to be a function of rock thermal characteristics, material properties and environmental constraints such as diurnal temperature range. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

致密碳酸盐岩跨频段岩石物理实验及频散分析

致密碳酸盐岩在成岩和后成岩过程中形成了复杂的孔隙结构特征,其速度等地震弹性参数不仅与孔隙度有关,而且还与孔隙结构特征密切相关.为了进一步研究致密碳酸盐岩内部流体相关的速度频散特征,针对致密碳酸盐岩进行实验室的频散测量与频散理论分析尤为重要.本研究选用了一块典型的致密型碳酸盐岩样品,在对样品进行了精细的包括CT扫描与镜下薄片的孔隙结构描述基础上,进行了实验室跨频段（从地震频段-超声频段）的频散测量与频散响应分析.比较实验室跨频段岩石物理频散测量可以获得如下认识：1）较之于典型的"喷射流"机制,改进的"喷射流"模型可以半定量地解释频散测量的结果,这大大提高了对致密碳酸盐岩频散响应的理解与认识;2）改进的"喷射流"模型还不能完全精确地匹配实验室频散测量结果,这说明除了微观尺度下的"喷射流"机制,还存在着其他控制频散与衰减的机制;3）本项工作对研究致密碳酸盐岩储层中不同频段地震波响应以及对储层预测与流体识别提供了理论依据.     

Impact of textural patterns on modeled rock weathering rates and size distribution of weathered grains

Rock texture has a critical influence on the way rocks weather. The most important textural factors affecting weathering are grain size and the presence of cracks and stylolites. These discontinuities operate as planes of mechanical weakness at which chemical weathering is enhanced. However, it is unclear how different rock textures impact weathering rates and the size of weathered grains. Here, we use a numerical model to simulate weathering of rocks possessing grain boundaries, cracks, and stylolites. We ran simulations with either synthetic or natural patterns of discontinuities. We found that for all patterns, weathering rates increase with discontinuity density. When the density was <~25%, the weathering rate of synthetic patterns followed the order: grid > honeycomb > Voronoi > brick wall. For higher values, all weathering rates were similar. We also found that weathering rates decreased as the tortuosity of the pattern increased. Moreover, we show that textural patterns strongly impact the size distributions of detached grains. Rocks with an initial monomodal grain size distribution produce weathered fragments that are normally distributed. In contrast, rocks with an initial log-normal size distribution produce weathered grains that are log-normally distributed. For the natural patterns, weathering produced lower modality distributions.     

Ground penetrating radar imaging of cap rock, caliche and carbonate strata

Field experiments show ground penetrating radar (GPR) can be used to image shallow carbonate stratigraphy effectively in a variety of settings. In south Florida, the position and structure of cap rock cover on limestone can be an important control on surface water flow and vegetation, but larger scale outcrops (tens of meters) of cap rock are sparse. GPR mapping through south Florida prairie, cypress swamp and hardwood hammock resolves variations in thickness and structure of cap rock to 3 m and holds the potential to test theories for cap rock–vegetation relationships. In other settings, carbonate strata are mapped to test models for the formation of local structural anomalies. A test of GPR imaging capabilities on an arid caliche (calcrete) horizon in southeastern Nevada shows depth penetration to 2 m with resolution of the base of caliche. GPR profiling also succeeds in resolving more deeply buried (5 m) limestone discontinuity surfaces that record subaerial exposure in south Florida.     

Some observations on the chemical weathering of the Dartmoor granite

The majority of geomorphological papers about Dartmoor have been essentially speculative, particularly when discussing weathering processes and the evolution of the Dartmoor landscape. In contrast, this article presents a synthesis of several experimental investigations aimed at studying the chemical weathering of Dartmoor granite through the systematic analysis of soil and water samples. This involved the computation of a geochemical budget to determine the amount of erosion in the catchment, as well as more detailed mineralogical investigations within a soil profile. The annual output of solutes due to weathering was 116 kg ha^?1 a^?1 of which the majority was silica (93 kg ha^?1 a^?1). From an examination of the soil mineralogy, it was calculated that these solutes were derived from the dissolution of approximately 200 kg ha^?1 a^?1 plagioclase, 90 kg ha^?1 a^?1 biotite, and 40 kg ha^?1 a^?1 orthoclase. As well as the weathering of granite, there was also the production of kaolinite (150 kg ha^?1 a^?1) and gibbsite (0.02 kg ha^?1 a^?1). Analysis of the soil water chemistry confirmed that kaolinite was the stable mineral phase in the regolith, although in areas where interflow was the dominant mode of water movement, the solute composition was in equilibrium with both kaolinite and gibbsite. Examination of the clay mineralogy confirmed these results. The microtexture of quartz grains was examined by the scanning electron microscope as another means of investigating the hydrochemical environment in the soil. Silica was found precipitated on all the grains examined but the maximum amount occurred in the Bs horizon. This evidence showed that, firstly, the dissolution of aluminosilicate minerals is greater than that calculated by the chemical budget and, secondly, that models of granite weathering must take localized weathering in the soil profile into account. The final part of the paper highlights the limitations of calculating denudation rates for an entire catchment and stresses the need to consider weathering as a highly localized phenomenon, particularly where there are high volumes of interflow at hill crest sites. Observations on granite decomposition in the future should be quantitative in approach and be related to the local site conditions.     

Frost weathering and the saturation of coastal rocks

Measurements were made of the water content in coastal rocks, by simulating tidal oscillations in the laboratory, and by field measurement in eastern Canada. If rapid freezing takes place upon exposure to the air, saturation levels may be high enough to permit frost weathering in fine grained rocks in the lower portions of the intertidal zone. Near the high tidal level, however, it may be dependent upon a supply of water from the ice foot and from melting snow. If freezing is slow, frost action may be inhibited by desorption of the rocks while they are exposed by the ebb tide. There was no evidence of a level of permanent sea water saturation within the intertidal zone. Ambient temperature and humidity may affect the rate of rock desorption.     

The effect of rock moisture on Schmidt hammer rebound: tests on rock samples from Marion Island and South Africa

In an assessment of the influence of internal rock moisture content on Schmidt hammer readings, rebound (R) values are found to decrease with increasing moisture content. For samples of basalt, sandstone and dolerite the maximum decrease in R‐values is found between oven dry values and saturated rock rebound values, the magnitude of which varies from 2 to 10 points on the R‐scale. A quartzite block has the greatest decline of 6 points at 60 per cent saturation. For certain rock types under differing site‐to‐site field moisture conditions the moisture effect can be a significant factor in the interpretation of the relative state of weathering from rebound values. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical modelling of combined erosion and weathering of slopes in weak rock

Due to various decay processes associated with weathering, the stability of artificial slopes in weak rocks may be affected well within their envisaged engineering lifetime. Conceptually, the decay following the initial stress release after excavation can be described as a process seeking equilibrium between weathering and erosion. The extent to which such an equilibrium is actually reached influences the outcome of the weathering‐erosion decay process as well as the effects that the decay has on the geotechnical properties of the exposed rock mass, and thus ultimately the stability of slopes affected by erosion and weathering. This paper combines two conceptual models for erosion and weathering, and derives a numerical model which predicts the resulting slope development. This can help to predict the development of a slope profile excavated in a weak rock in time, and can be extended with the addition of strength parameters to the weathering profile to enable prediction of slope stability as a function of time. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

多阶段成岩作用对深层碳酸盐岩岩石物理性质的影响——以四川盆地震旦系灯影组四段为例

国内深层-超深层碳酸盐岩储层普遍经历多阶段、多期次的成岩作用改造,非均质性极强,致使脱离地质背景的岩石物理分析方法难以准确地给出岩石物理变化规律与储层特征之间的联系.本文通过对合川地区震旦系灯影组四段深层白云岩岩石物理性质的测量,并结合岩石学特征分析、多尺度孔隙结构分析及沉积环境的划分,在成岩作用过程框架下分析岩石物理特征的变化规律.研究结果表明,目标层段白云岩差异性成岩过程形成了不同的岩石孔隙结构特征与微观结构特征.丘滩相高能微生物白云岩分别经历同生期微生物白云岩化与渗透回流白云岩化作用、准同生期选择性溶蚀作用、埋深白云岩化作用以及构造-热液白云岩化,形成的晶粒白云岩主要为致密"焊接"型和紧密型白云石晶体接触边界,溶蚀孔隙发育,微裂隙与孔喉共同作为流体渗流通道.滩间海低能硅质、泥质与灰质云岩主要经历弱毛细管浓缩白云岩化作用、强机械压实致密化与埋深白云岩化作用,形成的晶粒白云岩存在致密"焊接"型、黏土型、石英胶结型与方解石型晶体接触边界,孔隙以残余原生粒间或晶间孔为主,以微裂隙作为主要的流体渗流通道.晶粒边界性质与孔隙结构共同控制了样品的宏观物性及地震弹性性质,相同晶粒边界的样品具有一致的纵波-横波速度和纵波速度-速度比变化关系.微裂隙等软孔隙对纵、横波速度影响程度的差异造成有效压力-速度、纵波-横波速度、纵波速度-速度比、孔隙度-速度关系以及孔隙尺度流体相关频散作用的强弱发生明显变化.研究结果可为深层碳酸盐岩的储层特征地震预测提供岩石物理依据,并可作为示例形成在地质过程中研究岩石物理特征演化的新方法.     

Weathering of granite in Antarctica: I. Light penetration into rock and implications for rock weathering and endolithic communities

Where rocks are composed of translucent minerals, light penetrates the rock and, in so doing, impacts on the thermal conditions. Where minerals are not translucent all the heat transformation must be at the rock surface, and steep thermal gradients can occur. Where light does penetrate, a component of the incoming radiation is transformed to heat at differing depths within the rock, thereby decreasing the thermal gradient. Equally, light transmissive minerals facilitate endolithic communities, which can also play a role in rock weathering. The attribute of light transmission within rock and the impact this has on the resulting thermal conditions has not been considered within rock weathering studies. An attempt was made to monitor the amount of light penetrating the outer 2 mm of coarse granite under Antarctic summer conditions and to evaluate the thermal impact of this. It was found that the amount of light penetration at this site exceeded modeled or postulated values from biological studies and that it could significantly impact the thermal conditions within the outer shell of the rock. Although the resulting data highlighted a number of flaws in the experimental procedure, sufficient information was generated to provide the first assessment of the range of thermal responses due to light transmissive minerals in rock. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differences of granitic weathering at the northern and southern feet of Dabie Mountains,Central China: Implication for tectonic and climatic environments

Previous studies of weathering generally started with geochemistry[1—8] and mineralogy[9—12], and have been focused on chemical weathering rates[1—3], removability-enrichment of elements[3—6] during chemical weathering, and the age of weathering profi…     

Thermal properties as controls on rock surface temperature maxima,and possible implications for rock weathering

Four rock types (basalt, sandstone, granite, and chalk) are examined with respect to the maximum surface temperatures which they experience when subjected to similar conditions of exposure. Rock temperature measurements are reported for an urban environment and for two experimental situations in which an infrared lamp is used to simulate heating under cold and hot conditions. Differences in rock temperatures are discussed with reference to thermal rock properties (albedo, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity). Some natural situations are suggested in which thermal rock properties could conceivably play a role in determining the extent to which rocks would be affected by particular weathering processes.     

Field evidence for the influence of weathering on rock erodibility and channel form in bedrock rivers

Erosion processes in bedrock‐floored rivers shape channel cross‐sectional geometry and the broader landscape. However, the influence of weathering on channel slope and geometry is not well understood. Weathering can produce variation in rock erodibility within channel cross‐sections. Recent numerical modeling results suggest that weathering may preferentially weaken rock on channel banks relative to the thalweg, strongly influencing channel form. Here, we present the first quantitative field study of differential weathering across channel cross‐sections. We hypothesize that average cross‐section erosion rate controls the magnitude of this contrast in weathering between the banks and the thalweg. Erosion rate, in turn, is moderated by the extent to which weathering processes increase bedrock erodibility. We test these hypotheses on tributaries to the Potomac River, Virginia, with inferred erosion rates from ~0.1 m/kyr to >0.8 m/kyr, with higher rates in knickpoints spawned by the migratory Great Falls knickzone. We selected nine channel cross‐sections on three tributaries spanning the full range of erosion rates, and at multiple flow heights we measured (1) rock compressive strength using a Schmidt hammer, (2) rock surface roughness using a contour gage combined with automated photograph analysis, and (3) crack density (crack length/area) at three cross‐sections on one channel. All cross‐sections showed significant (p < 0.01 for strength, p < 0.05 for roughness) increases in weathering by at least one metric with height above the thalweg. These results, assuming that the weathered state of rock is a proxy for erodibility, indicate that rock erodibility varies inversely with bedrock inundation frequency. Differences in weathering between the thalweg and the channel margins tend to decrease as inferred erosion rates increase, leading to variations in channel form related to the interplay of weathering and erosion rate. This observation is consistent with numerical modeling that predicts a strong influence of weathering‐related erodibility on channel morphology. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.