Lessons from the tropics for a global geomorphology

Historically, geomorphologists have applied uniformitarian principles based on a temperate normality to all water-worn landscapes. Isolation of tropical landforms within formal morphogenetic regions, which arose during the early history of the subject, has persisted. However, in a global geomorphology, plate tectonic motion, Milankovich cycles of climate change and invasive weather systems all render fixed climatic boundaries meaningless and, on every timescale of enquiry, interaction of the tropics with extra-tropical regions is fundamental. In tropical regions, the continuity of weathering processes through geologic time emphasizes their contemporary relevance and, with knowledge of Quaternary climate changes, increases understanding of the nature of landscape sensitivity and instability and fluvial sedimentation on millennial timescales. Examples are illustrated from northeast Queensland, Australia and northwest Kalimantan, Indonesia. Global concerns centred on hazards and resources need to be addressed through a reciprocal exchange of ideas involving greater focus on tropical areas.     

Biogeochemistry of a regolith: The New Caledonian Koniambo ultramafic massif

This work aims to elucidate the factors governing the mobility of metals in soils of a lateritic nickel ore deposit in New Caledonia. The transfer of nickel and associated metals is determined along a topographic sequence ranging from a plateau to a thalweg. Mining exploration borehole data and soil pit data enabled us to define the general geochemical trends of the lateritic weathering. The homogeneous topsoil, which consists mainly of iron oxy-hydroxides, exhibits various amounts of plant available metals. Two interrelated factors control the differences in metal availability: (1) the presence of nickel-rich soil horizons underlying the topsoil and formed of silicate minerals, and (2) the biological cycling of metals from these horizons to the surface. These results have major implications for topsoil management during the mining activity where it is important to minimise metal inputs to water systems and to restore endemic vegetation after mining.     

CO2 and sulfuric acid controls of weathering and river water composition

Reactions of CO₂ with carbonate and silicate minerals in continental sediments and upper part of the crystalline crust produce HCO₃⁻ in river and ground waters. H₂SO₄ formed by the oxidation of pyrite and reacting with carbonates may produce CO₂ or HCO₃⁻. The ratio, ψ, of atmospheric or soil CO₂ consumed in weathering to HCO₃⁻ produced depends on the mix of CO₂ and H₂SO₄, and the proportions of the carbonates and silicates in the source rock. An average sediment has a CO₂ uptake potential of ψ = 0.61. The potential increases by inclusion of the crystalline crust in the weathering source rock. A mineral dissolution model for an average river gives ψ = 0.68 to 0.72 that is within the range of ψ = 0.63 to 0.75, reported by other investigators using other methods. These results translate into the CO₂ weathering flux of 20 to 24 × 10¹²mol/yr.     

Global weathering variations inferred from marine radiogenic isotope records

Determining the past record of chemical weathering is essential for understanding changes in climate and atmospheric CO₂, such as those that occur throughout the Cenozoic (the last 65 my). Many natural radiogenic isotopes in seawater are sensitive to variations in chemical weathering, but taken alone cannot distinguish such changes from those caused by variations in erosional source (such as composition, geographical location or ocean circulation). However, comparison of isotope systems with different sources and different behaviour in seawater can resolve such effects, and the relationship between weathering and climate change can be examined on both long and short timescales.     

Seasonality of bedrock weathering chemistry and CO2 consumption in a small watershed, the White River, Vermont

The draw down of CO₂ from the atmosphere during mineral weathering plays a major role in the global budget of this greenhouse gas. Silicate minerals remove twice the CO₂ of carbonate minerals per mole of calcium in runoff during weathering. Bedrock weathering chemistry was investigated in the White River watershed of northeastern USA to investigate whether there are seasonal differences in carbonate and silicate weathering chemistry. Geographic Information Systems analyses of bedrock geology were combined with major element concentrations in river waters to gain an understanding of the consistency of mineral weathering during three seasons. The percent of carbonate mineralogy comprising the bedrock in tributaries of the White River varied from less than 5% to 45% by area. A mass balance calculation using major element concentrations in waters was applied to estimate the seasonal relationships between bedrock geology and bicarbonate flux. In all tributaries and the main stem of the White River the highest calculated percent of bicarbonate from carbonate mineral weathering was measured in the late fall. The results suggest that carbonate and silicate bedrock weathering processes are seasonally controlled. Thus single season sampling could not accurately represent an entire year's geochemical budget. In the White River, water samples obtained solely during the summer would consistently underestimate the total yearly source of bicarbonate from carbonate bedrock weathering. The same sample set would also provide data that would lead to an underestimation of the yearly atmospheric CO₂ draw down by bedrock weathering in the watershed. For example at four of the seven locations studied there was an almost two-fold difference between summer and spring calculated atmospheric CO₂ consumption rates.     

黄河拉西瓦水电站坝区花岗岩风化研究

风化作用对于岩体工程地质性能的降低不言而喻。研究探讨重大水电工程岩石风化作用机理对于工程区岩体风化带划分、风化渐进性分析、表征岩体风化特征指标的选择及力学性质参数取值等具有重要意义。文章从风化作用本质、化学元素迁移、风化作用类型等角度,对拉西瓦水电站坝区花岗岩风化作用机理进行了探讨。结合本区气候演化、岩石性质、地形条件等综合分析认为:在浅表河谷范围内,风化形式以岩石胀缩作用和冰劈作用为主,而化学风化作用并不强烈。论文采用量化指标对岩体进行风化带划分,选取的定量指标有平硐纵波速度Vp、钻孔RQD、裂隙间距与单元面积节理数等。在此基础上,利用电站20余a来丰富详实的地质、物探、岩体测试等大量资料,采用定性分析与定量划分相结合的研究方法,对黄河拉西瓦坝基花岗岩体进行风化分带,得出坝基岩体风化带总体空间布局。     

Laboratory simulation of the salt weathering of schist: 1. Weathering of schist blocks in a seasonally wet tropical environment

Data describing sediment generation focusing on the temporal evolution of size gradation are required for the prediction of long‐term landform evolution. This paper presents such data for the salt weathering of a quartz‐chlorite schist obtained from the Ranger Uranium Mine in northern Australia. Rock fragment samples are subjected to three different climate regimes: (1) a dry season climate; (2) a wet season climate (both based on observations at the Ranger site); and (3) an oven‐drying sequence designed to test the sensitivity of the weathering process by exposing the rocks to more extreme temperatures. Two MgSO₄ salt solutions are applied, one being typical of wet season runoff and the other a more concentrated solution. Salt solution is applied daily in the wet season experiments and once only at the beginning of the dry season experiments. Results of the experiments reveal four stages of weathering. The kinetics of each stage are described and related to the formation of sediment of different sizes. Wet season climate conditions are shown to produce greater moisture variability and lead to faster weathering rates. However, salt concentrations in the wet season are typically lower and so when climate is combined with observed salt concentrations, the dry and wet season experiments weather at approximately equal rates. Finally, small variations in rock properties were shown to have a large impact on weathering rates, leading to the conclusion that rock weathering experiments need to be carefully designed if results are to be used to help predict weathering behaviour at the landscape scale. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

WEATHERING AND CLIMATE CHANGE SINCE 1820 AD IN HOH XIL, QINGHAI-XIZANG PLATEAU, CHINA——EVIDENCE FROM ELEMENT GEOCHEMISTRY OF LAKE SEDIMENTS OF GULUG CO LAKE

1INTRODUCTION LAKESEDIMENTSREFERTOMATERIALSBROUGHTABOUTBY EROSIONFROMTHELAKECATCHMENT(WUYANHONGETAL.,2004).THEELEMENTCOMPOSITIONOFLAKESEDIMENTSAND THEIRRATIOSREFLECTTHEGEOCHEMICALPROCESSESOFDIFFERENT ELEMENTSDURINGENVIRONMENTALEVOLUTION.CHEMICAL WEATHERIN…     

Weathering and climate change since 1820 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 element composition of lake sediments from Gulug Co Lake, Hoh Xil, Qinghai-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.