Eleventh Annual V. M. Goldschmidt Conference (2001)
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AN ASSESSMENT OF WEATHERING INDICES AND THEIR POTENTIAL
APPLICATIONS TO HETEROGENEOUS WEATHERING PROFILES AND
PALEOSOLS. J.R. Price1 and M.A. Velbel2, 1,2Department of Geological Sciences, 206
Natural Science Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115,
1
pricejas@msu.edu.
Introduction: Measures of weathering
intensity based on bulk major and trace
element analyses of a weathering profile are
often best suited for unmodified saprolites
developed on homogeneous parent rocks
(e.g., granite). Isovolumetric geochemical
methods which treat bulk density
measurements of the saprolite as indicators
of extent of weathering have proven to be
very useful for investigating uniform
weathering profiles. However, such
weathering indices may lose utility when
addressing more heterogeneous weathering
profiles where eluviation processes have
acted, and/or the saprolite is developed on a
non-uniform protolith (interlayering of rocks
of variable weatherability, common in
metamorphic rocks). Difficulties with
isovolumetric methods and other
geochemical weathering indices are further
exacerbated when applied to paleosols, as
ancient weathering profiles may have
undergone diagenetic modifications,
compaction, or both.
A heterogeneous saprolite developed on
extensively layered felsic metamorphic
rocks of the southern Blue Ridge of the
United States has been studied utilizing
numerous weathering indices calculated
from bulk chemical analyses, in addition to
isovolumetric methods. The study area
provides an opportunity to test different
weathering indices on a complex modern
saprolite developed from a heterogeneous
protolith. The results of this investigation
allow different geochemical weathering
3688.
indices to be evaluated for non-uniform
saprolites and/or paleosols.
Results: The results of this study
suggest that the weathering indices tested
may fall into one of three groups. (1) Those
which do not require Al to be immobile and
provide appropriate consistent weathering
trends when plotted against either bulk
density or depth. These are the Weathering
Index (WI) and the Weathering Ratio (WR).
(2) Indices which assume Al to be immobile,
but provide appropriate weathering trends
when plotted against either bulk density or
depth. The Chemical Index of Weathering
(CIW), the Chemical Index of Alteration
(CIA), the Weathering Index of Reiche and
Vogel (MWPI), and the Vogt Ratio (V) fall
into this category. And, (3) weathering
indices which assume Al to be immobile,
but do not provide appropriate weathering
trends when plotted against bulk density and
depth. This final group describes the
Ruxton Ratio (R). The WR was further
investigated by using TiO2, ZrO2, and Y2O3
in the calculations, all of which provided
consistent and similar vertical trends. The
WI or WR are likely best suited for
investigating the elemental behavior in
paleosols or modern heterogeneous
weathering profiles. The CIW, CIA, MWPI,
and V may also provide adequate results,
and R should only be used with extreme
caution. The utility of any weathering index
increases as the homogeneity of the
weathering profile and/or protolith
increases.