Forests, climate, and silicate rock weathering

Over time periods of 10⁶ years and longer, atmospheric carbon dioxide content is largely controlled by a balance between silicate rock weathering and CO₂ sources (degassing from the Earth plus net organic carbon oxidation). Vegetation cover can affect silicate rock weathering rates by increasing soil CO₂ content, stabilizing soil cover, and producing organic acids. Forests absorb more solar radiation than most other ecosystems; this tends to warm Earth's climate, especially outside of the tropics; this warmth would tend to increase silicate rock weathering rates. Here, we develop preliminary parameterizations of this effect that could be incorporated into carbonate–silicate cycle models, based on the results of general circulation model simulations.     

Weathering and climate change since l820 AD in Hoh Xil, Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China——Evidence from element geochemistry of lake sediments of Gulug Co Lake

Element geochemistry of lake sediments has been widely used to detect climate change because element composition and ratios can reflect the weathering degree in the source area. Given the dement composition of lake sediments from Gulug Co Lake, Hoh Xil, Qing- hai-Xizang Plateau, chemical index of alteration （CIA）, index of composition variability （ICV） and other element ratios have been used to establish the weathering sequence of this area since 1820 AD. The weathering is so weak that the element composition change is more sensitive to climate change and autochthonous processes. From 1820 to 1984 AD, there were two drier periods with a wetter interval from 1870 to 1945 AD. After 1984 the weather showed a tendency of becoming wet.     

Weathering characteristics of arctic islands in northern Norway

The arctic islands of the Lofoten-Vesterålen archipelago in northern Norway have a wide distribution of weathered land surfaces commonly located above 250 m with several apparent similarities. In order to investigate the characteristics of (deep) weathering in this region, northern Langøya and Hadseløya were chosen for in-depth analyses. Eight weathering profiles were excavated from various surfaces, and the stratigraphies were logged in detail. Material was collected throughout the weathering horizons, and all samples were subsequently analysed for clay mineralogy (< 63 μm fraction) and grain size distribution. The sampling strategy was complemented by samples from additional saprolites and other landforms such as moraines and rock glaciers. The XRD results indicate that the presence of secondary minerals, such as gibbsite (Al(OH)₃) and kaolinite (Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄), are very common throughout the profiles. Gibbsite is an extreme end product of silicate weathering and usually associated with a warmer and more humid climate, as found in Scandinavia during the Tertiary. The grain size analyses (< 63 μm) show that the finer silt fractions (< 8 μm) tend to be high in the profiles (20–40%), with significant amounts of clay (5–15%) demonstrating that the regolith itself is susceptible to frost sorting mechanisms.¹⁰Be exposure dates from in situ quartz knobs on tors and boulders of local origin suggest > 40,000 years of subaerial conditions. Considering the steady surface erosion, this figure should be viewed as an absolute minimum age estimate. Mapping of the superficial sediments and geomorphological features of the study areas has revealed several common morphological features, which indicate dominance of glacial and periglacial processes in the areas lying below the lower boundary of blockfields (c. 250 m). The weathering mantles are not a periglacial end product, but rather a relict tertiary landform that were modulated by permafrost processes as well as biological processes at later stages. The regolith cover constrain the vertical extension of warm-based Quaternary ice sheets challenging the notion of a parabolic ice mass consuming every mountain top of Lofoten and Vesterålen.     

杨庄截潜工程趾板段帷幕灌浆效果分析

杨庄截潜工程趾板段建基面以下为弱风化白云岩和含燧石条带白云岩,透水性较强,造成库水漏失严重.为解决建基面以下基岩渗漏问题,采用趾板段帷幕灌浆封堵基岩裂隙而形成防渗帷幕,以减少库水漏失.通过趾板段帷幕灌浆达到封堵基岩裂隙的目的,满足工程设计的防渗要求.     

利用钻孔超声成像的图像特征进行岩石风化程度分类

钻孔超声成像方法能精确地反映井壁的光滑情况, 进而判断岩石的风化发育程度, 确定风化层的厚度。阐述了钻孔超声成像的走时和振幅图像特征, 给出了1个在香港地区的应用实例。     

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.     

Pressure effect on Ti- or P-rich accessory mineral saturation in evolved granitic melts with differing K2O/Na2O ratios

The solubility of Ti- and P-rich accessory minerals has been examined as a function of pressure and K₂O/Na₂O ratio in two series of highly evolved silicate systems. These systems correspond to (a) alkaline, varying from alkaline to peralkaline with increasing K₂O/Na₂O ratio; and (b) strongly metaluminous (essentially trondhjemitic at the lowest K₂O/Na₂O ratio) and remaining metaluminous with increasing K₂O/Na₂O ratio (to 3). The experiments were conducted at a fixed temperature of 1000 °C, with water contents varying from 5 wt.% at low pressure (0.5 GPa), increasing through 5–10 wt.% at 1.5–2.5 GPa to 10 wt.% at 3.5 GPa. Pressure was extended outside the normal crustal range, so that the results may also be applied to derivation of hydrous silicic melts from subducted oceanic crust.

For the alkaline composition series, the TiO₂ content of the melt at Ti-rich mineral saturation decreases with increasing pressure but is unchanged with increasing K content (at fixed pressure). The P₂O₅ content of the alkaline melts at apatite saturation increases with increased pressure at 3.5 GPa only, but decreases with increasing K content (and peralkalinity). For the metaluminous composition series (termed as “trondhjemite-based series” (T series)), the TiO₂ content of the melt at Ti-rich mineral saturation decreases with increasing pressure and with increasing K content (at fixed pressure). The P₂O₅ content of the T series melts at apatite saturation is unchanged with increasing pressure, but decreases with increasing K content. The contrasting results for P and Ti saturation levels, as a function of pressure in both compositions, point to contrasting behaviour of Ti and P in the structure of evolved silicate melts. Ti content at Ti-rich mineral saturation is lower in the alkaline compared with the T series at 0.5 GPa, but is similar at higher pressures, whereas P content at apatite saturation is lower in the T series at all pressures studied. The results have application to A-type granite suites that are alkaline to peralkaline, and to I-type metaluminous suites that frequently exhibit differing K₂O/Na₂O ratios from one suite to another.     

湘桂黔滇藏红色岩溶风化壳发育模式

基于对湘，桂、黔，滇，藏等地岩溶区红色风化壳的野外和室内研究，从表生地貌学，粘土矿物学和地球化学角度分析红色石灰土性质与地貌演化的关系，提出红色岩溶风化壳发育的二阶段模式；1）地貌夷平-风化物质积累阶段，在地貌演化过程中溶蚀残余物质不断积累，最后在夷平面上形成厚层连续的泥质风化壳，夷平面的地貌水文条件有利于粘粒的形成和保存，但限制了富铝化作用的有效进行，造就了岩溶风化壳粘粒含量高，富铝化程度低的特点，这与研究区23个红色岩溶风化壳剖面化学，粒度特征和粘土矿物组合特点一致。2）地貌切割-风化壳淋溶阶段，原始夷平面上的风化壳大多呈灰色，只有在构造隆升和地表微切割导致地下水位降低，淋溶条件开始改善的情况下，风化壳才有可能枞根本上转为红色。     

模拟酸雨对福建四种山地土壤的淋溶与风化作用

在不同pH值 (2 .0、3.5、5 .0、6 .0及蒸馏水 )的模拟酸雨作用下 ,对福建四种类型山地土壤进行了为期 12 0d的淋溶试验。结果表明 ,盐基离子的淋溶量随模拟酸雨pH值的降低而增加 ,尤其当pH≤ 3.5时 ,增加最明显。 4种类型土壤中各离子淋失量大小均为 :Ca2 >Mg2 >K >Na ,这与原土壤中交换性盐基含量一致。在pH≥ 3.5的酸雨作用下 ,土壤中铝的淋失较少 ,而当酸雨pH =2 .0时 ,铝的淋失骤然升高。pH2 .0的模拟酸雨不仅增加了土壤铝离子的释放 ,而且加速了矿物的风化。在pH2 .0的模拟酸雨淋溶下 ,红壤、黄壤、山地草甸土和紫色土中由矿物风化输入的 5种阳离子总量分别为 2 .94、4 .33、4 .35和 6 .0 4 (cmol kg)土 ,显著大于其它酸雨处理。土壤对酸沉降的缓冲作用由阳离子交换、氢氧化铝水解以及原生矿物风化缓冲作用三部分组成 ,其相对重要性不仅决定于土壤酸度、盐基饱和度和矿物组成 ,而且与酸雨的pH值密切相关