A rhyolite and a pure limestone are exposed to weathering in a temperate (mild t

Question

A rhyolite and a pure limestone are exposed to weathering in a temperate (mild to warm and somewhat humid, but not tropical) area receiving significant amounts of rainfall Assuming that both rocks have been exposed to the same conditions of weathering for an equal period time, and that the rain water in this area is to some extent acidic: (i) Which of these two rock types will weather more easily? ii) Explain the most important processes involved in weathering each of these two rock types. Please be as specific as possible. (Hint: think of the minerals contained in each rock, and how each will weather) (iii) Which of these two rock types will end up with a thicker soil on top of it upon weathering? Why? iv) What are the products (i.e. minerals, ions, etc.) of weathering of each of these two rock types? Which of these products are likely to remain in the soil (i.e. are residual)?

Explanation / Answer

1. Limestone is more easily weather out since rhyolite contains most resistant minerals like quartz which resist weathering.

2. Complete dissolution processes in weathering of limestone

xanthization process, dehydration ( goethite to hematite), hydrolysis are some processes responsible for rhylolite.

3. Rhyolite will form thicker soil since in case of limestone nothing is left behing every thing that get weathered out will dissolve into acidic water.

4. limestone weathering form calcium ion and bicarbonate ion which carbonic acid react with calcite mineral

and in this case no residual left behind

hematite,  Haplic Cambisol, an Abruptic Lixisol, and two Haplic Lixisols, quartz , and clay mineral will dominate in soil

  

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