Deep Rock Weathering Episode 3 – Reagents that Dissolve Minerals

To weather rock, reagents are required. For example, CO2 is found in rainwater as carbonic acid or CO2 is produced by plant roots and by microbes. Through the large fractures carbonic acid and CO2 reach great depth – dissolved in water. Through the fine fractures they reach the interior of the rock....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: von Blanckenburg, F., Schulz, A.
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:English
Published: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_5014820
Description
Summary:To weather rock, reagents are required. For example, CO2 is found in rainwater as carbonic acid or CO2 is produced by plant roots and by microbes. Through the large fractures carbonic acid and CO2 reach great depth – dissolved in water. Through the fine fractures they reach the interior of the rock. There they dissolve minerals, like the feldspar. New, completely different minerals form, for example clay minerals. They create fine fractures through which water with carbon can penetrate further and the weathering begins again.