Mechanism of leached layer formation during chemical weathering of silicate minerals

The dissolution of most common multicomponent silicate minerals and glasses is typically incongruent, as shown by the nonstoichiometric release of the solid phase components. This results in the formation of so-called surface leached layers. Due to the important effects these leached layers may have...

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Main Authors: Ruiz-Agudo, E., Putnis, Christine, Rodriguez-Navarro, C., Putnis, Andrew
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10577
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author Ruiz-Agudo, E.
Putnis, Christine
Rodriguez-Navarro, C.
Putnis, Andrew
author_facet Ruiz-Agudo, E.
Putnis, Christine
Rodriguez-Navarro, C.
Putnis, Andrew
author_sort Ruiz-Agudo, E.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The dissolution of most common multicomponent silicate minerals and glasses is typically incongruent, as shown by the nonstoichiometric release of the solid phase components. This results in the formation of so-called surface leached layers. Due to the important effects these leached layers may have on mineral dissolution rates and secondary mineral formation, they have attracted a great deal of research. However, the mechanism of leached layer formation is a matter of vigorous debate. Here we report on an in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of the dissolution of wollastonite, CaSiO 3, as an example of leached layer formation during dissolution. Our in situ AFM results provide, for the first time, clear direct experimental evidence that leached layers are formed in a tight interface-coupled two-step process: stoichiometric dissolution of the pristine mineral surfaces and subsequent precipitation of a secondary phase (most likely amorphous silica) from a supersaturated boundary layer of fluid in contact with the mineral surface. This occurs despite the fact that the bulk solution is undersaturated with respect to the secondary phase. Our results differ significantly from the concept of preferential leaching of cations, as postulated by most currently accepted incongruent dissolution models. This interface-coupled dissolution-precipitation model has important implications in understanding and evaluating dissolution kinetics of major rock-forming minerals. © 2012 Geological Society of America.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-105772017-09-13T14:56:20Z Mechanism of leached layer formation during chemical weathering of silicate minerals Ruiz-Agudo, E. Putnis, Christine Rodriguez-Navarro, C. Putnis, Andrew The dissolution of most common multicomponent silicate minerals and glasses is typically incongruent, as shown by the nonstoichiometric release of the solid phase components. This results in the formation of so-called surface leached layers. Due to the important effects these leached layers may have on mineral dissolution rates and secondary mineral formation, they have attracted a great deal of research. However, the mechanism of leached layer formation is a matter of vigorous debate. Here we report on an in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of the dissolution of wollastonite, CaSiO 3, as an example of leached layer formation during dissolution. Our in situ AFM results provide, for the first time, clear direct experimental evidence that leached layers are formed in a tight interface-coupled two-step process: stoichiometric dissolution of the pristine mineral surfaces and subsequent precipitation of a secondary phase (most likely amorphous silica) from a supersaturated boundary layer of fluid in contact with the mineral surface. This occurs despite the fact that the bulk solution is undersaturated with respect to the secondary phase. Our results differ significantly from the concept of preferential leaching of cations, as postulated by most currently accepted incongruent dissolution models. This interface-coupled dissolution-precipitation model has important implications in understanding and evaluating dissolution kinetics of major rock-forming minerals. © 2012 Geological Society of America. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10577 10.1130/G33339.1 restricted
spellingShingle Ruiz-Agudo, E.
Putnis, Christine
Rodriguez-Navarro, C.
Putnis, Andrew
Mechanism of leached layer formation during chemical weathering of silicate minerals
title Mechanism of leached layer formation during chemical weathering of silicate minerals
title_full Mechanism of leached layer formation during chemical weathering of silicate minerals
title_fullStr Mechanism of leached layer formation during chemical weathering of silicate minerals
title_full_unstemmed Mechanism of leached layer formation during chemical weathering of silicate minerals
title_short Mechanism of leached layer formation during chemical weathering of silicate minerals
title_sort mechanism of leached layer formation during chemical weathering of silicate minerals
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10577