Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Secondary Minerals
Note that mechanical weathering breaks up rocks into smaller pieces, which are more
susceptible to hydrolysis due to the greater surface area exposed to acidic water. Also,
soluble silica (H4SiO4) and metal cations (e.g., magnesium, Mg2+, calcium, Ca2+; sodium
Na+; potassium, K+) released during hydrolysis are dissolved materials that become part
of the water.
The dissolved ions thus added to water may precipitate elsewhere and ultimately be
transformed to inorganic chemical sedimentary rocks. dissolved silica generally
precipitates as secondary silica away from the site of its production.
The carbonate and sulfate minerals are highly soluble compared to the alumino-silicates
The major carbonate minerals are calcite and dolomite. The major sulfate mineral is
gypsum. Na- and K- generally deposit as chlorides or sulfates. These minerals are called
evaporates, which are readily soluble in water and hence only found in deserts.
Carbonation.Complete Dissolution of Carbonate minerals
Consider water at pH 12 in contact with CaCO3. Any CaCO3 after dissolution will dissociate
into calcium and carbonate ions. The carbonate ions thus formed will remain as carbonate
ions at pH 12. Ksp equilibrium will be attained quickly and dissolution shall stop.
K sp [CaCO3 ] [Ca 2 ].[CO32 ] 5x10 9 At Equilibriu m, [Ca 2 ] [CO32 ] 7.77 x10 5 M
Now Consider water at pH 5.6 in contact with CaCO 3. Any CaCO3 after dissolution will
dissociate into calcium and carbonate ions. The carbonate ions thus formed will mostly be
converted to bicarbonate ions. Thus Ksp equilibrium will not be attained and more CaCO3
will be dissolved. The pH of the solution will also go up as more and more CaCO 3 is
dissolved. Finally, Ksp equilibrium will be attained at some pH > 5.6, but the amount of
CaCO3 dissolved in this case is much higher.
As more and more acidic water comes to contact with the carbonate rock, the rock will be
completely dissolved.
Carbonatio n : CaCO3 (s) H Ca 2 HCO 3
O and A Horizon..Topsoil
Only a few meters deep; provides the richest amount of organic matter for germinating
seeds since plants and animals decay on the ground level. As decomposition occurs in the
topsoil, microorganisms, from bacteria to fungi, populate the soil to keep the decaying
process active.
E and B Horizon..Subsoil
Subsoil does not have high organic matter concentrations but offers rich minerals for root
systems. Minerals from the topsoil find their way down into the subsoil through water
runoff;
C Horizon..Regolith
R Horizon...Bedrock