Allanite and epidote weathering at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, western North Carolina, U.S.A.

摘要

Allanite and epidote occur in the parent rocks of weathered regolith at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in North Carolina and exhibit different responses to weathering. Petrographically, epidote and allanite are identical at Coweeta, and only with additional analytical techniques (e.g., EDS or LA-ICP-MS) can the two be distinguished. Allanite is more abundant in unweathered bedrock but weathers readily below the weathering front. In contrast, the much less abundant epidote persists into the solum with only minimal evidence of weathering. The rapid dissolution of allanite is likely influenced by its metamict nature. Both epidote and allanite at Coweeta dissolve by interface-controlled dissolution kinetics, evidenced by etch pits on grain surfaces. Etch pits appear to be either large "negative crystals," or small, shallow, and elongated. The incipient stage of allanite weathering is characterized by Al mobility and Fe precipitation as goethite. During the initial stage of allanite weathering, carbonate precipitates, but with progressive weathering the carbonate is dissolved.