『Abstract
Weathering occurs over a wide range of scales. To link features
through these scales is a major challenge for interdisciplinary
weathering studies. Fractal approach seems to be specially useful
for this purpose. We introduce a multistep fractal weathering
assessment scheme devoted to extract fractal weathering classifiers
from texture analysis of the mineral's image. Our scheme enables
to quantitatively estimate the global and local information about
the geometry of the weathering pattern. This information is basic
to develop geometrical indices of weathering, which can significantly
enrich the common qualitative and semiquantitative weathering
assessment schemes. To justify the fractal approach, a strong
statistical self-similarity has been documented for both the weathering
and fresh features of two common silica minerals: quartz and biogenic
A-opal (phytolith) over four orders of length scales. The procedure
is fast, drastically reduces thresholding bias, promises to be
universal, it is valid for genetically different minerals and
rock types, scale independent, and specially useful for monitoring
the changes in the mineral's roughness during the alteration.
Two of the proposed classifiers seem to be potentially useful
for direct application in the field and be used by nonspecialist.
Key words: scale invariance; texture; roughness; thresholding;
quartz; phytolith』
Introduction
Image fractal analysis
Fractal imaging and thresholding
Materials and methods
Self-similarity of the weathering patterns and fractal classifiers
Mineral weathering signature or firmagram (C1)
Generalized lacunarity (C2)
Edge detection: Local fractal analysis (LFA)
Role of the coefficient h
Size of the sliding window and range of grid sizes
Definition of the centre for an even window
Heterogeneity of weathering features distribution (C3)
Continuity and tortuosity of the patterns (C4)
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References