Synonyms
Chemical action; Chemical alteration; Chemical decomposition; Chemical process; Chemical reactions
Definition
Weathering of rocks caused by the chemical action of water containing atmospheric oxygen, carbon dioxide, and some organic acids in solution on the rock-forming minerals leading to an adjustment of the mineralogical composition with the formation of new minerals, like hydrous phyllosilicates, iron oxides/hydroxides, soluble salts, and other alteration products, consisting of rock decay by chemical decomposition.
Introduction
Chemical processes need water, occurring more rapidly at higher temperature, so they are more common in warm and wet climates. There are different types of chemical weathering processes, such as solution, hydration, hydrolysis, carbonation, oxidation, reduction, and chelation. Some of these reactions occur more easily when the water is slightly acidic. Weathering of rocks is a fundamental phenomenon for the formation of the soil, and therefore...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Aires-Barros L, Miranda AM (1989) Weathering and weatherability of rocks and its significance in geotechnics. In: Weathering: its products and deposits, vol vol II. Theophrastus Publications SA, Athens, pp 605–645
Aleva GJJ (1994) Laterites: concepts, geology, morphology and chemistry. ISRIC (International Soil Reference and Information Centre), Wageningen, p 170
Anon (1995) The description and classification of weathered rocks for engineering purposes (Geological Society Engineering Group working party report). Q J Eng Geol 28:207–242
Bardossy G, Aleva GJJ (1990) Lateritic bauxites, Developments in economic geology, vol 27. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 624
Chorley RJ (1969) The role of water in rock disintegration. Introduction to fluvial processes. Methuen Publishing, Ltd., pp 53–73
Cocker MD (2014) Lateritic, supergene rare earth element (REE) deposits. In: Conway FM (ed) Proceedings of the 48th annual forum on the geology of industrial minerals, Scottsdale/Phoenix, Apr 30–May 4 2012. Arizona geological survey special paper 9, chapter # 4. pp 1–18
Duarte IMR (2002) Solos residuais de rochas granitóides a Sul do Tejo. Características geológicas e geotécnicas [Residual soils of granitoid rocks to south of the Tagus River. Geological and geotechnical characteristics]. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, in Portuguese, University of Évora, Évora
Duarte IMR, Ladeira FL, Gomes CF (2004) Chemical indices and the assessment of the weathering state of residual granitic soils from temperate climates. Abstr. Book 32nd International Geological Congress, Florence 2004
Formoso MLL (2006) Some topics on geochemistry of weathering: a review. An Acad Bras Cienc 78(4):809–820
Gomes CF (1988) Argilas. O que são e para que servem. [Clays. What they are and what they are for]. Gulbenkian Foundation (ed) Lisboa, 457 p
Gomes CF (2002) Argilas: Aplicações na Indústria. O Liberal, Empresa de Artes Gráficas (ed), Câmara de Lobos, RAM. isbn:972-8684-12-6, 338 p
Johnson SW, Blake M (1867) On kaolinite and pholerite: contributions for the Sheffield Laboratory of Yale College. Am J Sci 43:351–361
Meyer FM (2004) Availability of bauxite reserves. Nat Resour Res 13(3):161–172
Murray HH (1993) Kaolins, kaolins, kaolins. In: Murray HH, Bundy WM, Harvey CC (eds) Kaolin genesis and utilization, Special Publication, vol 1. Clay Minerals Society America, Boulder, pp 1–24
Ollier CD (1984) Weathering. Longman, London
Pings WB (1968) Bacterial leaching. Min Ind Bull 2(3):19 pp
Price DG (1995) Weathering and weathering processes. Q J Eng Geol 28:243–252
Reiche P (1950) A survey of weathering processes and products, Publication in geology, vol 3. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 95 p
Ross CS, Kerr PF (1930) The kaolin minerals. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 165:151–180
Selby MJ (1993) Hillslope materials and processes. University Press, Oxford
Townsend FC (1985) Geotechnical characteristics of residual soils. J Geotech Eng 111(1):77–94
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this entry
Cite this entry
Duarte, I.M.R., Gomes, C.S.F., Pinho, A.B. (2018). Chemical Weathering. In: Bobrowsky, P.T., Marker, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73568-9_49
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73568-9_49
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-73566-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-73568-9
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences