A study of rock alteration process based on kinetics of hydrothermal experiment

Experimental investigation was made on hydrothermal alteration of sericite in acid solution. It is found that the sericite is changed to pyrophyllite through kaolinite at 270° C and 260° C, and the alteration is considered to be a consecutive reaction involving two steps, from sericite to kaolinite and from kaolinite to pyrophyllite. On the other hand, pyrophyllite is not formed at 190° C and the sericite is altered to kaolinite. The rate of reaction in each step of this hydrothermal alteration is dependent on reaction temperature and chemical composition of the solution. From the results of the quantitative analyses of the experimental products, kinetic constants and related parameters were obtained.By using these numerical values, an alteration process can be followed in a given model. Computed results for some cases of an alteration of sericite in acid solution are presented. Geological phenomena such as rock alteration or weathering are thought to progress in a disequilibrium state and in an open system. An attempt described in this paper is a physicochemical approach to treat an alteration process accompanied with material transfer occurring in an open system from a kientic viewpoint.