Natural deterioration and conservation treatment of the granite standing Buddha of Daejosa Temple, Republic of Korea

The Daejosa Buddha is formed of highly weathered coarse grained biotite granite. The main body is dark green due to a covering of lichens. The main body of the Buddha has developed nearly vertical, horizontal and oblique joint systems. Results of physical properties for the rock samples from the Daejosa Buddha are lower than for normal fresh granite as the primary minerals of the host rocks have been altered to clay and iron hydroxide minerals. Spore and mycelium of green algaes and some plants cover the surface of the standing Buddha and fill the pore space of the surrounding rocks. Considering the weathering and state of deterioration, the Buddha statue requires conservation treatment. Restoration may be largely divided into the head part, upper and lower parts, and the back side of the Buddha. The head and the cap rock were joined and restored with unslaked lime filling. The head and stone crown of the Buddha were fitted and restored using an epoxy type resin with high viscosity that was mixed with granite powder and talc as petro-fillers. For the back side, resin was applied for reinforcement. Araldite and hardener of low viscosity that were used with the addition of glass fibers. Finally, texture and color matching treatments were carried out.     

四川广元千佛崖石窟造像表面风化的环境地质问题分析

采用温湿度测试、石窟造像渗水实验、石窟造像吸水的红外成像、岩石特征分析等手段,对四川广元千佛崖石窟造像表面及其周围环境进行监测,以及对石窟造像岩石特征进行分析。结果表明：进深较大的窟室内外存在2℃~4℃的温差,岩石0~40 mm深度范围内温度与外界气温存在显著相关性;石窟造像岩石主要成分为长石、石英、黑云母及黏土矿物,岩石渗水率和吸水率高,表层风化程度高。环境和岩石特征揭示广元千佛崖石窟造像的风化机理为：石质文物棱角部位和小型石窟造像对温度的变化敏感,当气温出现变化时,其温度变化剧烈,而其他部位相对滞后,从而导致石窟造像表层岩石在热胀冷缩的应力下出现微裂隙,并随着微裂隙逐渐增大,石质文物表面出现疏松、起壳、鳞片剥落等病害。同时微裂隙的出现增加水入渗的途径并扩大水-岩相互作用的面积,含水矿物的水合压力和结晶压力使岩石内部结构疏松逐渐破坏;水化学作用导致可溶盐离子形成,并随水毛细迁移在石窟造像表面聚集,导致石窟造像表面酥碱、锈染、彩绘层空鼓等失去原真而破坏。最后提出在窟龛上面加盖窟檐和在崖顶及立面坡面刻槽疏排水流等石窟造像治理措施来减缓其表面风化。     

SWIR ASTER band ratios for lithological mapping and mineral exploration: a case study from El Hudi area, southeastern desert, Egypt

This study aims to discriminate and to map the basement rocks as well as the barite mineralization exposed at El Hudi area, Southeastern Desert, Egypt using the processed short-wave infrared bands of advanced space-borne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) in collaboration with the field verification and petrographic analysis. El Hudi area is covered dominantly by the Late Precambrian high-grade metamorphic complex of metasedimentary rocks (gneisses, schists, migmatites, and minor amphibolites) which are intruded by the younger granitoids. Nubian sandstones unconformably overlie the basement outcrops and occur as a remnant caps. The metasedimentary rocks cover the area of interest forming a belt of biotite gneisses and migmatites intercalated with hornblende biotite schists and minor amphibolites. Their exposures exhibit well-foliated and banded structures. The metasedimentary rocks have gray and dark gray image signatures on the ASTER band ratio image 8/5, which correspond to biotite gneiss, migmatites, and hornblende biotite schists, respectively. Presence of absorption feature near band 8 (2.295 – 2.365 μm) for the chlorite alteration product is probably responsible for the lowering of the 8/5 band ratio value and the dark gray image signature exhibited by hornblende biotite schists. The granitoid rocks in El Hudi area are late to postorogenic younger granitoids including three main rock types, Abu Aggag granites, El Hudi garnetiferous muscovite granites, and coarse-grained biotite granites. The acidic dykes are cutting across the granitoids and the gneisses and they form a highly elevated ridges and peaks showing sharp contact with the invaded rocks. Abu Aggag granites are highly dissected by great number of both strike- and dip-slip faults as well as joints trending in NNW–SSE, NNE–SSW, N–S, ENE–WSW, and WNW–ESE directions. On 7/8 band ratio image, Abu Aggag granites have dark gray image signature whereas postgranitic dykes have white image signature. Under the microscope, Abu Aggag granites are homogenous medium to coarse-grained rocks composed mainly of quartz, plagioclase, microcline, and biotite. Zircon, apatite, and opaques are accessories, while chlorite, kaolinite, and epidote are secondary minerals. Presence of absorption feature around band 7 (2.235–2.285 μm) for the kaolinite mineral may be responsible for the dark gray image signature exhibited by Abu Aggag granites. El Hudi garnetiferous muscovite granites are hosting El Hudi barite veins which extend mainly in NNW–SSE and NW–SE. Garnetiferous muscovite granites have gray image signature on 5/4 band ratio image whereas pegmatites and postgranitic dykes have black image signature. Barite veins can be distinguished within garnetiferous muscovite granites by their dark gray image signature on 5/4 band ratio image. The spectral reflectance curve of barite exhibits absorption feature around 2.1 μm (band 5), which leads to lower the ratio value and yields the dark image signature to barite veins. The above-described ASTER band ratio images were integrated into one false-color composite image (8/5:R; 5/4G; and 7/8B) which was used to produce 1:100,000 geological map for El Hudi area and to locate the barite mineralization.     

花岗岩中的钾长石巨晶：以南岭佛冈花岗质杂岩体中微斜长石巨晶为例

野外地质观察和岩石显微结构研究表明,佛冈花岗质杂岩体中微斜长石巨晶是岩浆结晶的产物,不是交代斑晶,也不是变斑晶,它们与基质中的微斜长石构成双峰式粒径,反映了岩浆的两阶段结晶历史,由于微斜长石是钾长石的低温变体,因此一种可能的机制是佛冈花岗质杂岩岩浆在侵位和基本固结后,冷却缓慢,使早结晶的正长石转变为微斜长石,此外,在新近的研究中,还发现了罕见的,但在佛冈花岗杂岩体中为数不少的“十字”贯穿式双晶微斜长石,以及微斜长石巨晶的“环斑”和“珠边”结构。     

Weathering damage evaluation of rock properties in the Bunhwangsa temple stone pagoda,Gyeongju, Republic of Korea

The stone pagoda of the Bunhwangsa temple in Republic of Korea was made of piling small brick-shaped stones. The majority of stone bricks are andesitic rocks with variable geneses. Rock properties of the pagoda roof suffer partial significant deterioration, such as multiple peel-offs, exfoliation, onion-peel-like decomposition, cracks forming round lines and falling-off stone pieces. The stylobates and tabernacles at the four corners are composed of granitic rocks, which are heavily contaminated by lichens and mosses. Some of these contamination marks show dark black or yellowish brown colors by inorganic secondary hydrates. The four tabernacles and northern face of the pagoda body have been exposed to relatively high humidity, which causes light gray efflorescence as stalactites between the northern and western sides of the body. The efflorescences are composed of calcite, gypsum and clay minerals. The stone lion statues at the southeast and northeast corners are made of alkali granite, while the others are lithic tuff. Total rock properties of the pagoda consist of 9,708 stone bricks. Among them, 11.0% are fractured, 6.7% are fallen off, and 7.0% show considerable surface efflorescence, which shows that the pagoda has been highly deteriorated by physical, chemical and biological weathering. The authors strongly suggest long-term monitoring and comprehensive conservation researches.     

青藏高原大同西侧石英二长岩体地球化学及岩石系列

大同西侧石英二长岩体位于青藏高原西北缘、西昆仑山主峰地带,形成于早古生代。其地质、地球化学研究表明,岩体岩石组合类型为（石英）二长闪长岩－（石英）二长岩－石英正长岩。岩石主要由斜长石、微斜长石、石英、角闪石、辉少量黑云母组成。岩石化学成分富碱、富钾、Ｋ２Ｏ／ＮａＯ比值大而贫铁,微量元素富集Ｒｂ、Ｓｒ、Ｂａ特闫离子亲石元素和轻稀土元素,属于钾玄岩系列。     

Oxygen isotope ratios in magnetite core-and-mantle structures

In a polymetamorphic, felsic, biotite-bearing gneiss, biotite has reacted to form magnetite and microcline. The resulting structure is a magnetite core surrounded by a mantle of feldspar and quartz normally not exceeding 20mm in diameter. Measurements of oxygen isotope ratios disclose disequilibrium between mantle microcline and mantle quartz and also between mantle and matrix minerals of the same species. A clustering of temperature estimates from the oxygen isotope distribution between magnetite and quartz and between magnetite and microcline in the interval 550 to 600°C suggests an approach to oxygen isotope equilibrium. No signs of a re-equilibriation of the reacting biotite can be found.     

Estimation of reactive mineral surface area during water-rock interaction using fluid chemical data

Mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions actively participate to control fluid chemistry during water-rock interaction. However, it is difficult to estimate and normalize bulk reaction rates if the mineral surface area effectively participating in the reactions is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the changing of the reactive mineral surface area during the interaction between CO₂-rich fluids and albitite rock reacting under flow-through conditions. Our methodology, adopting an inverse modelling approach, is based on the measured chemical fluid composition as raw data. We estimated the rates of dissolution and the reactive surface areas of the different minerals by reconstructing the chemical evolution of the interacting fluids. This was done by a reaction process schema that was defined by a fractional degree of advance of the irreversible mass-transfer process and by attaining the continuum limit during the water-rock interaction. Calculations were carried out for albite, microcline, biotite and calcite assuming that the ion activity of dissolved silica and aluminium ions was limited by the equilibrium with quartz and kaolinite.We found that the absolute dissolution rate of albite, microcline, biotite and calcite remains essentially constant as a function of time, and the calcite dissolution rate is orders of magnitude higher than silicate minerals. On the contrary, the reactive surface area of the parent minerals varied by more than two orders of magnitude during the observed reaction time, especially for albite. We propose that the reactive surface area depends mainly on the stability of the secondary mineral coating that may passivate the effective reactive surface area of the parent minerals.     

内蒙古营盘湾-东五分子一带的色尔腾山岩群的厘定及地质意义

色尔腾山岩群是华北克拉通西部陆块阴山地块早前寒武纪变质基底的主要组成部分,对探讨华北克拉通早前寒武纪基底构造演化有着十分重要的意义。本文根据对营盘湾-东五分子一带的色尔腾山岩群的地质填图、剖面测量、地球化学分析和SHRIMP测年,对色尔腾山岩群的组成、原岩建造、形成环境和形成时代进行了讨论。认为色尔腾山岩群由陈三沟岩组、柳树沟岩组和东五分子岩组组成,陈三沟岩组由灰黑色细粒斜长角闪岩、浅灰色细粒黑云斜长片麻岩夹角闪斜长片麻岩组成;东五分子岩组下段由细粒含石英黑云斜长角闪岩、黑云角闪斜长片麻岩、黑云斜长片麻岩呈韵律产出,顶部为灰白色细粒黑云斜长片麻岩夹薄层磁铁黑云斜长片麻岩,上段为由细粒黑云角闪片岩与浅肉红色黑云长英片麻岩互层,顶部有薄层白色透闪石大理岩;柳树沟岩组以角闪片岩、二云母片岩、二云石英片岩、石榴黑云片岩、黑云母片岩为特征。其原岩总体构成表现为:下部以火山岩为主,上部以碎屑沉积岩和化学沉积岩为主的火山-碎屑沉积建造。火山岩明显富碱,其中酸性火山岩明显富铝、贫镁;具有较高的大离子亲石元素含量、较低的Y和重稀土元素含量;具有轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损的稀土分布形式。地球化学特征与埃达克岩类似,形成于活动大陆边缘的构造环境下。通过对东五分子岩组上部互层产出的细粒长英片麻岩和黑云母片岩分别取样,进行锆石U-Pb SHRIMP测年,分别获得1980±9Ma、1946±16Ma的成岩年龄和1901±15Ma、1893±66Ma的变质年龄。综上所述可以得出,色尔腾山岩群的形成于1.95~1.98Ga之间,是在类似埃达克岩的活动大陆边缘岛弧环境下沉积的,在1.9Ga左右发生碰撞造山而发生变质。     

Development of unusual rock weathering features in the Cordillera Blanca,Peru

Mylonite textures in granodiorite boulders are responsible for higher rates of surface denudation of host rocks and the progressive development of unusual rock weathering features, termed weathering posts. These textures are characterized by smaller grain sizes, higher biotite content, and a higher biotite axial ratio in host rocks relative to weathering posts. Elemental concentrations do not show a significant difference between weathering posts and the host rocks in which they are found, and this reflects the absence of a weathering residue on the rock surfaces. Chemical weathering loosens the bonds between mineral grains through the expansion of biotite, and the loosened grains fall off or are blown off the boulder surface and continue their chemical alteration in the surrounding soil. The height of weathering posts on late Quaternary moraines increases at a linear rate of ~ 1.45 ± 0.45 cm (1000 yr)^? 1 until post heights reach the diameter of host rocks. Such a rate of boulder denudation, if unrecognized, would generate significant errors (> 20%) in cosmogenic exposure ages for Pleistocene moraines. Given the paucity of boulders with diameters that significantly exceed 1.5 m, the maximum age of utility of weathering posts as a numeric age indicator is ~ 100 ka.     

Leaching of quartz from precambrian hypabyssal rhyolite porphyry,Llano County,Texas

A Precambrian hypabyssal rhyolite porphyry in central Texas has retained its original texture, although alkali feldspar phenocrysts have inverted and unmixed from zoned, single-phase high-temperature feldspar to zoned microperthite with an intermediate microcline host.Blue quartz phenocrysts owe their color to dispersion by zircon inclusions. Neutron activation analysis reveals substitution of tetravalent cations for silicon in the quartz.In two outcrops, quartz and albite have been completely leached from the rock and K-feldspar added, leaving the texture intact. The leaching was most likely accomplished by residual brine from an overlying Lower Cretaceous evaporite deposit subsequently removed by erosion.     

基于全卷积神经网络的花岗岩中不同组分分布特征分析

岩石中不同组分的分布特征是研究岩石物理力学性质的重要基础。本文以花岗岩为例,使用全卷积神经网络（FCN）和单轴压缩试验视频来研究花岗岩不同组分（裂隙、黑云母、石英、长石）的分布特征。将视频中单帧图像进行灰度转换和像素裁剪后,使用肉眼判定方法将4种组分进行标记并制成基础数据集,建立并训练了相应的FCN,通过对不同卷积层的可视化操作探讨了花岗岩中不同组分的分布情况,研究了整个变形破坏过程岩石中不同组分分布的变化特征,分析了不同组分识别准确率的变化情况及主要因素（网络深度、初始学习率和网络迭代次数）的影响。结果表明,在花岗岩的整个变形破坏过程中,裂隙首先在中部区域萌生、最后纵向贯穿整个岩石表面,黑云母组分分布分散且不断向左上方或右上方移动,石英主要集中在两侧区域,长石主要集中在中间和左上角区域;不同组分识别准确率逐步小幅度下降,准确率大小顺序是裂隙>黑云母>长石>石英;网络深度越深、初始学习率越大、则识别效果越好,迭代次数5000时的识别效果较好。研究结果对使用人工智能技术研究岩石中不同组分分布特征具有一定的参考价值。     

Strontium as a tracer of weathering processes in a silicate catchment polluted by acid atmospheric inputs, Strengbach, France

This paper determines the weathering and atmospheric contributions of Ca in surface water from a small spruce forested silicate catchment (N–E France) receiving acid atmospheric inputs. The bedrock is a granite with K-feldspar and albite as dominant phases. The calcium content in plagioclase is low and the Ca/Na ratio in surface water is high, reflecting other sources of calcium from those expected from the weathering of major mineral phases. The biotite content is low. Only traces of apatite were detected while no calcite was found in spite of a major hydrothermal event having affected the granite. The strontium isotopic ratio ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Sr content was used as a tracer of weathering and was determined in minerals and bulk bedrock, open field precipitation, throughfall, soil solution, spring and stream water. The Sr isotopic ratio of the reacting weathering end-member was predicted by simulating the alteration of the granite minerals by incorporating strontium into the water–rock interaction kinetic code KINDIS. In the early stages of water–rock interaction, K-feldspar and biotite strongly influence the isotopic composition of the weathering solution whereas, the Na-rich plagioclase appears to be the main long-term reactive weathering end-member. Approximately 50% of dissolved Sr in streamwater are atmospherically derived. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of exchangeable Sr in the fine fraction at 1-m depth from a soil profile indicate that the amount of exchangeable Sr seems essentially controlled by atmospheric inputs. The exception is the deep saprolite where weathering processes could supply the Sr (and Ca). Na-Plagioclase weathering obviously control the chemistry and the isotopic composition of surface waters. The weathering of trace mineral plays a secondary role, the exception is for apatite when plagioclase is absent. Our hydrochemical, mineralogical and isotopic investigations show that a major part of the strong Ca losses detected in catchment hydrochemical budgets that result from the neutralization of acid precipitation has an atmospheric origin. Consequently, in the long term, in such areas, the availability of such an exchangeable base cation might be strongly limited and surface waters consequently acidified.     

A study of erosion rates on salt diapir surfaces in the Zagros Mountains, SE Iran

Salt exposures and weathering residuum on several salt diapirs in different geographic/climatic settings were studied. Anhydrite, gypsum, hematite, calcite, dolomite, quartz, and clay minerals are the main constituents of the weathering residuum covering the salt diapirs in various thicknesses. Erosion rates of residuum as well as of rock salt exposures were measured at selected sites for a period of 5 years by plastic pegs as benchmarks. Recorded data were standardized to a horizontal surface and to long-term mean precipitation. For the rock salt exposures the following long-term denudation rates were determined of 30–40 mm a⁻¹ for coastal diapirs and up to 120 mm a⁻¹ for mountain salt diapirs. Long-term mean superficial denudation rate measured on weathering residuum of low thickness reached 3.5 mm a⁻¹ on coastal diapirs. The total denudation rate estimated for the thin residuum is close to 4–7 mm a⁻¹ based on apparent correlation with the uplift rate on Hormoz and Namakdan diapirs. Denudation of rock salt exposures is much faster compared to parts of diapirs covered by weathering residuum. The extent of salt exposures is an important factor in the morphological evolution of salt diapirs as it can inhibit further expansion of the diapir. Salt exposures produce huge amounts of dissolved and clastic load, thus affecting the surrounding of the diapir.     

使用相对熵研究花岗岩的损伤演化特征

岩石试件表面的视频图像可作为试件表面变形破坏的信息载体。为从试验视频图像中分析出定量的信息,文章提出一种描述岩石损伤演化的新方法:计算基准图像与对比图像的相对熵,用相对熵表征变形和破裂的发展,将相对熵明显上升阶段的起点作为试件损伤演化的启动时刻。根据花岗岩试件室内单轴压缩试验拍摄的试验视频,使用灰度分界阈值分割法得到了试件各细观组分的分布,使用相对熵表征试件中不同位置、不同组分的损伤演化特征,分析了试件全局区域的损伤演化阶段,探讨了损伤演化过程与组分类型、位置之间的关系。结果表明:试件损伤从试件中部开始,先扩展至左下,再扩展至右上;组分损伤的先后顺序为长石、石英、黑云母,且损伤大小顺序为石英＞长石＞黑云母;黑云母损伤从右上开始、然后扩展至中部,石英损伤从中部开始、先后扩展至左下和右上部位,长石损伤从上部开始、先后扩展至中部和下部。     

矿物成分和细观结构与岩石材料力学性质的关系

岩石材料的宏观力学性质取决于其矿物成分和细观结构。使用材料试验机,测定了岩浆岩、化学沉积岩以及碎屑沉积岩9种岩样的力学性质参数。采用X射线衍射方法,测定了相应岩样的矿物成分。使用扫描电镜,观测了相应岩样的细观结构。分析了矿物成分和细观结构分别与力学性质参数的定性关系。对各组岩样的研究分析表明:存在于颗粒边界的裂隙会显著降低岩样的抗拉强度,长石矿物是岩样脆性的主要来源,颗粒大小和面理结构会对岩石的内摩擦角造成显著的影响,细晶花岗岩中较高的方解石含量使其抗压强度和弹性模量较小,细晶花岗岩中石英含量较高,其粘聚力较大;石盐晶体的细小与紧密堆积,造成了相应岩样的膨胀或蠕变特性,有机质的存在会对岩盐的力学性能产生显著的弱化;岩样中颗粒间的弱带,会弱化岩石材料的力学性能。深灰色泥岩中石英胶结物的次生加大现象,使得深灰色泥岩的力学性能得到提高。      

基于CT影像的砂岩文物结构特征分析

对于砂岩文物,成分不同、结构不同,表面变化过程和变化结果也不同。以中国三处(石门山、云冈石窟、乐山大佛)砂岩文物为例,联合使用肉眼鉴定与灰度阈值法得到了砂岩文物CT图像中不同矿物成分的实际分布,分析了不同位置切片图像的成分特点与结构特点,研究了砂岩内部结构数字图像特征参数的变化规律,探讨了三处砂岩文物数字图像特征参数的区别及其与岩样外观表现的关系。结果表明,三处砂岩文物样品主要成分均为石英和长石,石英含量大小顺序是石门山砂岩>云冈石窟砂岩>乐山大佛砂岩;乐山大佛砂岩形状变化最小,云冈石窟砂岩次之,石门山砂岩形状最不规则;石门山砂岩纹理最复杂,乐山大佛砂岩最为简单;乐山大佛砂岩表面风化严重、但随深度增加变化不明显,云冈石窟砂岩距表面越深、风化越弱,石门山砂岩风化变化比较复杂。研究结果对石质文物保护具有重要的参考价值。     

东秦岭北部富碱侵入岩带岩石地球化学特征及构造意义

在东秦岭北部,富碱侵入岩的侵位与空间分布受同一个区域构造带(华北陆块南缘)控制,构成一个区域性的富碱岩浆岩带。根据岩石学和岩石化学研究,岩石类型主要分为碱性正长岩、碱性花岗岩和石英正长岩三大类。富碱岩浆岩带自北而南可以划分为3个亚带:北部碱性正长岩亚带,中部碱性花岗岩亚带,南部石英正长岩亚带。3个亚带富碱岩浆在化学成分方面虽有差异,但都具有富碱高钾特征,ALK=9～15,ω(K_2O)为5％～15％,ω(K_2O)/ω(Na_2O)=1.26～8.30。岩石中的暗色矿物辉石类主要为霓辉石和霓石,角闪石类主要为钙质浅闪石、阳起石质闪石、镁质角闪石、钠钙质绿闪石,黑云母类主要为铁云母和金云母。岩石中的长石类主要为K-Na系列富K端员的微斜长石和最大微斜长石,少量钠长石,极少Na-Ca系列的斜长石。霞石类主要为钾霞石和钙霞石。根据岩石地球化学研究,有以下显示:(1)REE总量200～1100μg/g,LREE/HREE比值4～15,δEu表现为无Eu异常或轻微正负Eu异常,(La/Yb)_n值多为10～30;(2)部分岩石类型富集大离子亲石元素,不相容元素分布模式曲线总斜率为负,Ba,Nb,Zr具明显负异常,表明他们具有大陆裂谷碱性花岗岩的特征;(3)岩石Nd、Sr和Pb同位素的研究表明,富碱侵入体的源区应是以下地壳为主,带入少量地幔和上地壳物质。     

Petrogenesis of a porphyritic granite east of Oporto (Portugal)

A coarsely porphyritic granite of great areal extent in northern Portugal is described from the locality of Cete, cast of Oporto. Geological and petrographical evidence go to show that it originated by consolidation from a magma of much the same composition.The relative ages and modes of formation of the constituents are deduced from textural relationships. A paragenetical table is given. Initial magmatic conditions are demonstrated by the preferential distribution of the primary accessories in biotite, the earliest of the main constituents. Rare andalusite seems to be an early constituent. Intrusion is correlated with early crystallization. The magma had been emplaced before oligoclase started to separate. The microclineperthite megacrysts are shown to have largely crystallized from a magmatic fluid, ending on a replacement stage. Foliation and lineation, defined by planar and linear parallelism of the megacrysts, have formed in situ, not as flow structures due to intrusion. Orientation of older biotite and plagioclase inclusions in the megacrysts is described. Perthite is inferred to have formed by exsolution.The orthomagmatic stage passed into a final metasomatic period, with replacement textures. The main generation of quartz is partly magmatic, partly metasomatic. Primary plagioclase in contact with microcline suffered decalcification of its borders. There also occur albite fringes around primary plagioclase which were formed by albitization of surrounding microcline. Six different habits of quartz, representing two or three generations, and two types of myrmekite are distinguished. A new type of myrmekite quartz is described. The features of the metasomatic or endoblastic stage are discussed.With 17 Figures and 2 Tables... One of the fundamental branches of plutonic geology, ... is concerned with textures as indicating the time-relations of the rock components. H. H. Read (1949)     

Lead and strontium isotopes as monitors of experimental granitoid mineral dissolution

Flow-through dissolution experiments were carried out on crushed granitoid rock (the Elat Granite) and three mineral separates (plagioclase, perthite, and biotite + chlorite) from this rock at pH 1 and 25°C. Major element concentrations were combined with Pb and Sr isotopic analyses of starting materials and output solutions and together enabled us to elucidate several important mechanisms related to granitoid rock weathering. We observed an initial stage of rock dissolution (<200 hours of reaction) that was characterized by elemental release from traces of calcite and/or apatite and to a lesser extent from the interlayer sites of biotite. Dissolution in the interval of 200 to 400 h was dominated by the release of elements from the interlayer sites of biotite, and at 400 to 1000 h of reaction the chemistry of output solutions was dominated by the release of elements from tetrahedral and octahedral sites of biotite as well as from plagioclase. After 1000 h, the dissolution of plagioclase, and to a lesser extent biotite, dominated the composition of elements released by the rock. We demonstrate that Pb and Sr isotope ratios in the output solutions can be used to identify each of these stages of dissolution. By comparing our experimental results on the release of Pb and Sr isotopes with field measurements of Pb and Sr isotopes in soil chronosequences from the Wind River and the Sierra Nevada Mountains (USA), we are able to show that similar isotopic patterns appear in both the pH 1 experiments and in soils formed under natural conditions at higher pH. By combining these experimental results with previous field studies, we are able to estimate the duration of most of these stages of granitoid weathering under natural conditions in temperate climates. In soils older than a few hundred years and younger than 10,000 yr the release of elements from interlayer sites of biotite controls the weathering flux. Soils between 10,000 and 100,000 yr old are dominated by biotite and plagioclase weathering, with biotite weathering controlling the first part of this period and plagioclase dominating the later part. After more than 100,000 yr, plagioclase, and to a lesser degree biotite, dominate the weathering flux within these granitoid soils.