Carbonate marine, dissolution

Alexandersson, E.T., 1975. Etch patterns on calcareous sediment grains petrographic evidence of marine dissolution of carbonate minerals. Science, 189 47—48. 

In the preceding sections, we have discussed the marine processes that control calcium carbonate s formation, dissolution, and delivery to the seafloor. Their combined effects determine the geographic distribution of calcium carbonate in marine sediments seen in Figure 15.5. As noted earlier, the global distribution of calcareous sediments does not seem to follow that of plankton production. This points to the overriding importance of the processes that control the dissolution and sedimentation of calcium carbonate. 

Calcium carbonate compensation depth (CCD) The depth below which calcium carbonate is not found in marine sediments due to its dissolution. 

Both field and laboratory observations are consistent with the idea that dissolution can proceed faster than precipitation in carbonate sediments (also see Pytkowicz, 1971 Berner et al., 1978 Moulin et al 1985 Burton and Walter, 1987), and that the pore waters reach steady-state ion activity products close to those of the most unstable phase (dissolution processes will be discussed later in this chapter). Carbonate ion may be "pumped" down to values at saturation with less soluble phases, as dissolution of the more soluble material eventually causes its removal. However, the persistence of high magnesian calcites in sediments for long periods of time indicates that this process does not involve a large amount of mass transfer under normal marine conditions. 

This sulfate reduction reaction in anoxic carbonate sediments has potential importance for carbonate dissolution in shallow-water, marine environments, but its global significance remains a question. An observation of interest is that even complete sulfate reduction returns the saturation state of the water to only about half its original value. Thus the sulfate reduction reaction by itself may not promote carbonate precipitation and partial sulfate reduction may result in carbonate dissolution. 

The process of removal of calcium by marine organisms in the water column is well known. Production of calcium carbonate by water column biological processes may be estimated from primary productivity and from the mean chemical composition of plankton. After death of the organisms and removal of the organic protective layer, the skeletons may undergo dissolution if they encounter water undersaturated with respect to their mineral composition. Active dissolution of calcium carbonate occurs mainly near the sediment-water interface in deep waters that are undersaturated with respect to both calcite and aragonite (see Chapter 4). Thus, calcium is regenerated from calcareous skeletons and, finally, only a small fraction of the initial production of these materials accumulates in sediments. An... 

Reaves C.M. (1986) Organic matter metabolizability and calcium carbonate dissolution in nearshore marine muds. J. Sediment. Petrol. 56, 486-494. 

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