Chemical mass balance of calcrete genesis on the Toledo granite (Spain)

The chemical mass balance of calcrete genesis is studied on a typical sequence developed in granite, in the Toledo mountains, Central Spain.

Field evidence and petrographic observations indicate that the texture and the bulk volume of the parent rock are strictly preserved all along the studied calcrete profile.

Microscopic observations indicate that the calcitization process starts within the saprolite, superimposed on the usual mechanisms of granite weathering: the fresh rock is first weathered to secondary clays, mainly smectites, which are then pseudomorphically replaced by calcite. Based on this evidence, chemical mass transfers are calculated, assuming iso-volume transformation from the parent rock to the calcrete.

The mass balance results show the increasing loss of matter due to weathering of the primary phases, from the saprolite towards the calcrete layers higher in the sequence. Zr, Ti or Th, which are classically considered as immobile during weathering, are also depleted along the profile, especially in the calcrete layer. This results from the prevailing highly alkaline conditions, which could account for the simultaneous precipitation of CaCO₃ and silicate dissolution.

The calculated budget suggests that the elements exported from the weathering profile are provided dominantly by the weathering of plagioclase and biotite. We calculate that 8–42% of the original Ca remains in granitic relics, while only 15% of the authigenic Ca released by weathering is reincorporated in the calcite. This suggests that 373 kg/m² of calcium (i.e., three times the original amount) is imported into the calcrete from allochtonous sources, probably due to aeolian transport from distant limestone formations.     

西昆仑山北部早古生代构造－岩浆带的发现

1987年以来,先后做了4条横穿昆仑山的综合路线地质调查。它们是:中-巴公路沿线;新-藏公路沿线;于田县普鲁村-苏巴什-硫磺达坂路线;青海茫崖镇-祁曼塔格路线。在西昆仑山北部的调查区内,都有钙-碱性的深成岩体出露。通过对这些岩体系统地做U-Pb、Ar-Ar及Rb-Sr定年研究,发现它们具有早古生代年龄(384-480Ma),延伸上千公里,形成于活动大陆边缘或碰撞后的构造环境,常与属于蛇绿岩套的组分相伴生。这充分说明在青藏高原内部存在一条新发现的缝合带。