Calcite-cement soil

Clay minerals developed on calcite-cemented sandstones of the middle Keuper have been studied by Gadow [1965]. Two different soils were examined, which are described as pod-... 

The discovery of the calcrete hosted surfical uranium deposits of Namibia demonstrated the presence of widespread uranium in calcrete filled palaeochannels (Hambleton-Jones 1984) and similar mineral deposits have been observed elsewhere in Southern Africa, USA and Australia (Carlisle 1978 Hambleton-Jones 1978 Mann Deutscher 1978). The host rocks are typically lenticular bodies of alluvium, soil or detritus material cemented by calcite, gypsum, palygorskite, and other mineral phases. Uranium mineralogy is dominated by the mineral Carnotite [K2(U02)2(V04)2.3(H20)] as the main mineral in these channels. However other phases such as andersonite (Na2K3U03(C03)3(H20)6), liebigite (Ca2U02(C03)3(H20)io ... 

Figure 7.42. Comparison between (A) an idealized plot of variation in 8180 and 813C for carbonates subjected to vadose and phreatic meteoric diagenesis (after Lohmann, 1988) with (B) the meteoric alteration trend observed for the Key Largo Limestone, Florida, U.S.A. (after Martin et al., 1986). The critical trend in isotopic composition is termed the meteoric calcite line. This trend may be modified at the water recharge surface where evaporation is an important process, caliche is formed and the diagenetic phases are depleted in 13C derived from soil-gas CO2. Another modification can occur distally to the recharge area where precipitating carbonate cements may have isotopic ratios nearly equivalent to dissolving phases.

Calcite precipitation can result in the formation of calcrete, soil horizons cemented by calcite which can be used as chmatic indicators (JaUlard et at, 1991 Wright et al, 1995). 

Calcareous soil Very weakly cemented or uncemented soil with small carbonate accumulations as grain coatings, patches of powdery carbonate including needle-fibre calcite, carbonate-filled fractures and small nodules... 

Limestone (chiefly calcite, CaCOa) and dolomite rocks (chiefly dolomite, CaMg(C03)2) are exposed at about 20% of Earth s surface. Carbonate detritus, fossil shell materials, and carbonate cements are also common in noncarbonate sedimentary rocks and arid-climate soils. The carbonate minerals found in such occurrences, in decreasing order of importance, are calcite, dolomite, magnesian cal-cites (Cai jMgfCOa where jc is usually <0.2), aragonite (a CaCOa polymorph) and, perhaps, magnesite. As a rule of thumb, when such materials are present in silicate or aluminosilicate rocks or soils at a level of about 1 % or more, they will lend to dominate the chemistry of the soil or ground-water. This fact is extremely important when one is concerned about the ability of a rock to neutralize acid mine waters, other acid wastewaters, or acid rain. 

Calcite precipitation under phreatic conditions can continue uninterrupted by an air-water interface (Morse Mackenzie, 1990). Thus, isopachous or drusy, poikilotopic and blocky spar cements are most often associated with precipitation in the phreatic zone (Jacka, 1970 Folk, 1974 Retallack, 1990 Bums Matter, 1995). Sparry cements can also form in the vadose zone as calcans or crystic nodules, but they are associated with soil zonation, highly dense micritic cements and nodules (Weider Yaalon, 1982). Because these cements are not associated with such features they are unlikely to represent calcans or crystic nodules. 

In this paper the terms dolocrete and calcrete are used to indicate sediments extensively cemented by displacive dolomite and calcite under conditions ranging from the soil horizon to shallow phreatic. Conversely, we use the expression carbonate cement in sandstones where is no evidence of displacive, near-surface precipitation. Kaolin is used as a... 

Calcite Carbonates Arid soils very limited leaching C May act as cementing agent high P sorption... 

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