The lateral and vertical growth of laterite weathering profiles,Hawaiian Islands,USA

The Hawaiian Islands permit investigation of tropical chemical weathering rates and processes on a single rock type, basalt. Chronosequences are investigated as a function of rainfall due to the varying age of each island, including Kauai (~4 Ma), Oahu (~2 Ma), and Hawaii's Kohala Peninsula (~0.3 to 0.17 Ma). Understanding tropical critical zone (CZ) development is vital given the large populations in developing countries that rely on it. HVSR (horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio) seismic soundings on Kauai indicate that ~60% of the variability in laterite thickness is due to gradients in precipitation, with errors in erosion corrections and variability in the original permeability structure of the volcanic sequence playing important roles. Basalts have higher horizontal than vertical hydraulic conductivity (K_h > K_v) , and local variability in likely drives much of the remaining differences in laterite thickness. HVSR is well suited for estimating laterite thickness as it has been shown to reliably detect the base of the weathering profile, is rapid (20 min/sounding), highly portable, and occupies a very small footprint. Comparison of Kauai and Oahu weathering profiles suggests that the Oahu laterites are fully or nearly fully formed, despite being half the age of Kauai. By contrast, the young laterites on Kohala (~170 to ~300 ka) exhibit greatly contrasting thicknesses, where coastal laterites are thick and interior laterites are thin, suggesting that early weathering on shield volcanoes produces wedge-shaped laterites near the coast. With time, the thick (coastal) end of the wedge propagates upslope such that a fully developed, constant-thickness laterite carapace can form in ~2 Ma or less. The development of thickened coastal laterites on young substrates depends on greater water–rock ratios as vertically infiltrating water upslope is diverted laterally. This view of laterite development is very different compared to endmember models of continental weathering and CZ development. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

发育完整的灰岩风化壳及其矿物学和地球化学特征

对于碳酸盐岩土覆土壤成因、尽管碳酸盐岩风化残积成土说被多数学者认同,但由于碳酸盐岩中酸不溶物含量极低,在风化成土过程中会伴随着巨大的体积缩小变化,原岩结构和半风化带无法保留,从而缺失了探索上覆土壤物质来源的重要中间环节,使得这种观点缺乏野外宏观证据的支持。最近,我们在贵州、湖南等地发现了数个以泥质灰岩和泥质白云岩为基岩的碳酸盐岩风化壳剖面,尚保留有较好的原岩结构,具有明显的风化壳分带和过渡现象。这些风化壳剖面的发现为深入研究碳酸盐岩风化成土过程提供了良好的研究场所。本文选取了较为典型的吉首泥灰岩风化壳剖面,从矿物学地球化学的角度来探讨碳酸盐岩风化壳的形成过程和发育特征,结果表明该风化壳既遵循非碳酸盐岩（主要是结晶岩类）风化壳的发育特征,也具有自己独特的地球化学演化规律。风化壳总体特点受碳酸盐中的酸不溶物矿物组合及化学成分的影响甚至控制,风化非碳酸盐风壳相似的发育特征。吉首泥灰岩风化壳剖面的发育特征和作者早先提出 的碳酸盐岩风化成土的两阶段模式是一致的,即以碳酸盐矿物大量淋失、酸不溶物逐渐堆积或残积为特征的早期阶段和残积物进一步风化成土的阶段,后一阶段的演化类似非碳酸盐岩类的风化过程。     

Weathering of granitic rocks by chlorides: effect of the nature of the solution on weathering morphology

Five granites from NW Spain were subjected to two salt‐spray weathering tests under controlled atmospheric conditions. Granite samples were exposed to a sodium chloride solution in the first test and to a complex solution (sea water) in the second. Subsequent examination of the rocks by light and petrographic microscopy clearly demonstrated the development of different weathering morphologies in each test. The distribution of dissolved ions in samples taken at different depths from the weathered surfaces at the end of the experiments, and the changes in weight of the samples during the tests, also differed. In our opinion, these results were determined by the nature of the solution used; although sodium chloride is the predominant salt in sea water, the presence of other ions modifies its solubility, thereby varying the dynamics of mobility and precipitation and thus the weathering morphology that develops. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mineral accumulations induced by biological activity on granitic rocks in Qinghai Plateau,China

Fragments of weathered granitic rocks from the Kunlun Shan, Qinghai Plateau (China) were investigated to elucidate the in?uence of biotic crusts on the breakdown of granitic rocks in an alpine environment. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive system and X‐ray diffractometry were used to describe the nature and properties of mineral accumulations on the rock surface. Results showed that organic salts such as calcium oxalate and calcium formate are associated with Aspicilia caesiocinera (Nyl.ex Malbr.) Arnold, Caloplaca sp., Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th.Fr., and Lecidea plana (Lahm) Nyl. Secondary accumulations of 2 : 1 clays minerals are found in A. caesiocinera while oxides of manganese are associated with X. elegans. Coatings of goethite (iron oxides) are believed to form from biological activity associated with the presence of hyphae and rodlet structures on the ?akes. Calcium oxalate crystallizes into several morphologies such as druse, hexagonal plates, and lenticular containing between 20 and 48 per cent calcium by weight. Calcium formate and iron oxide (goethite) occur together in the form of ‘red’ desert varnish. Observed ‘black’ coatings contain as much as 37 per cent manganese and 22 per cent iron. Clay accumulations have plate‐like morphology and contain c. 2 : 1 silicon to aluminium contents. We argue that organic acids from the activities of biotic crusts contribute to the breakdown of granitic rocks. Fungi accelerate the breakdown of granitic rocks through the growth of fungal hyphae along the 001 cleavage planes in primary chloritic minerals. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

湘西地区陡山沱组黑色岩石风化与物理力学性质的变化特征

湘西地区陡山沱组黑色岩石因其特殊的矿物成份和地理位置，其风化作用具显著特征，即化学风化和物理风化作用相伴、相互促进。化学风化产生的矿物质一部分流失，一部分迅速结晶，形成物理风化作用，均造成岩石不断破碎，裂隙加深，因而又促使各种风化作用更加深入到岩石之中。这种风化所造成的岩石物理力学性质变化，将对岩土体的工程稳定性造成很大的影响。因而研究岩石风化后的这种变化有着十分重要的意义。本文对湘西地区陡山沱组黑色岩石不同风化特征进行了深入研究，结合其物理力学试验以及大量的点荷载强度试验结果，分析研究了岩石风化过程中物理力学性质的变化特征，提出了在该类岩石地区进行工程建设时应采取的措施。     

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.     

Preference ratios for mercury and other chemical elements in the Madeira River, Brazil

Samples of water, suspended solids, and bottom sediments from the Madeira River, Rondônia state, Brazil, were physically and chemically analyzed to investigate the actual Hg mobilization in the aquatic environment and compare it with that of other heavy metals and elements in the area. Two dimensionless Hg preference ratios were defined, expressing (1) the ratio of Hg and other elements in the liquid phase divided by the ratio of Hg and other elements in bottom sediments (P_l.phase) and (2) the ratio of Hg and other elements in the particulate matter divided by the ratio of Hg and other elements in bottom sediments (P_s.solids). These preference ratios are useful for comparing Hg transport in three different phases (liquid, particulate matter, and bottom sediments). They also were applicable to any analyzed element in the area studied, because they generated an almost constant value when the maximum calculated was divided by the minimum (P_l.phase=2931; P_s.solids=84) and because of their sensitivity to the dominance of sorption processes by Fe oxides and hydroxides. Mercury could be transported preferentially to other analyzed elements in the particulate phase only if its concentration reached values at least 10⁴-fold higher than those expected or quantified in the area.     

琼北火山喷发物风化特征的研究与应用

通过X光衍射、扫描电镜和能谱分析发现 ,琼北雷虎岭 -马鞍岭地区火山喷发物风化形成的次生黏土主要是球状和不规则球状富铁埃洛石 ,随着风化时间的增长 ,埃洛石的转变顺序为 10 埃洛石→ ( 10 + 7 )埃洛石→ 7 埃洛石 ,据此推测该地区火山喷发的先后顺序为雷虎岭东南→儒红村北→儒红村东。喷发年代在 6 0 0 0～ 12 0 0 0aBP之间     

Chemical weathering history of the southern Tajikistan loess and paleoclimate implications

In recent years, the loess deposits in Central Asia have attracted increasing attention of Qua-ternary paleoclimate researchers[1—8]. The centre of the loess deposits in this area is located in southern Tajikistan, where thick and continuous loess sectio…     

Patterns of damage in igneous and sedimentary rocks under conditions simulating sea‐salt weathering

A saline‐spray artificial ageing test was used to simulate the effects produced in granites and sedimentary rocks (calcarenites, micrites and breccia) under conditions in coastal environments. Three main points were addressed in this study: the durability of the different kinds of rock to salt decay, the resulting weathering forms and the rock properties involved in the weathering processes. For this, mineralogical and textural characterization of each of the different rocks was carried out before and after the test. The soluble salt content at different depths from the exposed surfaces was also determined. Two different weathering mechanisms were observed in the granite and calcareous rocks. Physical processes were involved in the weathering of granite samples, whereas dissolution of calcite was also involved in the deterioration of the calcareous rocks. We also showed that microstructural characteristics (e.g. pore size distribution), play a key role in salt damage, because of their influence on saline solution transport and on the pressures developed within rocks during crystallization. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.