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Element geochemistry of weathering profile of dolomitite and its implications for the average chemical composition of the upper-continental crust

Case studies from the Xinpu profile, northern Guizhou Province, China

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Abstract

Geochemical behavior of chemical elements is studied in a dolomitite weathering profile in upland of karst terrain in northern Guizhou. Two stages can be recognized during the process ofin situ weathering of dolomitite: the stage of sedentary accumulation of leaching residue of dolomitite and the stage of chemical weathering evolution of sedentary soil. Ni, Cr, Mo, W and Ti are the least mobile elements with reference to Al. The geochemical behavior of REE is similar to that observed in weathering of other types of rocks. Fractionation of REE is noticed during weathering, and the two layers of REE enrichments are thought to result from downward movement of the weathering front in response to changes in the environment. It is considered that the chemistry of the upper part of the profile, which was more intensively weathered, is representative of the mobile components of the upper curst at the time the dolomitite was formed, while the less weathered lower profile is chemically representative of the immobile constitution. Like glacial till and loess, the “insoluble” materials in carbonate rocks originating from chemical sedimentation may also provide valuable information about the average chemical composition of the upper continental crust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environment Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550002, Guiyang, China

    Hongbing Ji, Ziyuan Ouyang, Shijie Wang & Dequan Zhou

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  1. Hongbing Ji
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  2. Ziyuan Ouyang
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  3. Shijie Wang
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  4. Dequan Zhou
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Ji, H., Ouyang, Z., Wang, S. et al. Element geochemistry of weathering profile of dolomitite and its implications for the average chemical composition of the upper-continental crust. Sci. China Ser. D-Earth Sci. 43, 23–35 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02877828

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02877828

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