wAbstract
@Chemical weathering reactions of rocks at Earth's surface play
a major role in the chemical cycle of elements, and represent
one of the major abiotic sinks for atmospheric CO2.
Because natural chemical weathering reactions occur at different
and more complex chemical condition than laboratory-based weathering
experiments, it has long been thought that the underlying fluid-mineral
interaction mechanisms are different. In contrast to most previous
studies that have relied on ion, electron, and X-ray techniques
(characterized by Κm to mm lateral spatial resolution) to obtain
chemical depth profiles of altered mineral surfaces, we have used
high resolution and energy filtered transmission electron microscopy
(HRTEM, EFTEM) to study mineral-fluid interfaces using TEM foils
cut directly across the reaction boundaries. This allowed measurements
to be made directly in cross section at nanometer to sub-nanometer-resolution.
Our measurements of the surface chemistry and structure of a large
suite of laboratory-altered and field-weathered silicate minerals
indicate the general presence of surface layers composed of amorphous,
hydrated silica. In each case, the boundary between the parent
mineral and the corresponding silica layer is characterized by
sharp, nanometer-scale chemical concentration jumps that are spatially
coincident with a very sharp crystalline-amorphous interfacial
boundary. TEM, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and aqueous chemistry
data suggest that the surface layers are permeable to fluids.
Taken together, our measurements are not in agreement with currently
accepted models for chemical weathering, in particular the leached
layer theory. Most importantly, our data provide critical evidence
for a single mechanism based on interfacial dissolution-reprecipitation.
This concept not only unifies weathering processes for the first
time, but we also suggest that nanoscale-surface processes can
have a potentially negative impact on CO2
uptake associated with chemical weathering. The results in this
study, when combined with recently published research on fluid-assisted
mineral replacement reactions, supports the idea that dissolution-reprecipitation
is a universal mechanism controlling fluid-mineral interactions
(Putnis and Putnis, 2007). Based on this we propose the existence
of a chemical weathering continuum based solely on the interfacial
dissolution-reprecipitation mechanism.
Keywords: Chemical weathering; Dissolution-reprecipitation; Silicate
minerals; Transmission electron microscopy (TEM); Fluid-solid
interfaces; CO2 sequestrationx
1. Introduction
@1.1. Overview of laboratory and natural chemical weathering
processes
@1.2. Development of dissolution-reprecipitation concept
2. Materials and methods
@2.1. Laboratory chemical weathering
@2.2. Aqueous chemistry
@2.3. Sample preparation
@2.4. Solid-state analyses
@2.5. Naturally weathered samples collected in field
3. Results
4. Discussion
@4.1. Diffusion vs. interfacial dissolution-reprecipitation
@4.2. Binary interdiffusion of univalent cations with protons
@4.3. Binary interdiffusion of cations (z = +1, +2, +3) with protons
@4.4. General conclusions of diffusion modeling
@4.5. Interfacial dissolution-reprecipitation mechanism
@4.6. Properties of thin fluid films and precipitates
@4.7. Growth of surface layers and their chemical composition
@4.8. Internal porosity of surface layers
5. Conclusions and broader implications
Acknowledgments
References