Chemical weathering plays a crucial role in the alteration of major-element geochemistry and mineralogy of siliciclastic sediments. Most of Earth’s exposed crust is unweathered plutonic rocks, most of which have a chemical index of alteration (CIA) value of ~ 50. This lab considers the geochemical and mineralogic changes when such rocks are exposed to acidic solutions in the weathering environment by calculating the CIA values for 7 real rocks from Australia. After erosion of the profile, this weathered material then becomes clastic sediment. ***************************************************************************** Read all of these instructions carefully. There are questions and problems along the way that need to be answered. CIA = Al2O3 / (Al2O3 + CaO* + Na2O + K2O) x 100 Complete data sets through modern weathering profiles are relatively uncommon still, and to my knowledge this is the best of all available profiles. For samples 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15 you need to do the following things: 1) Calculate CIA (remember to use molecular proportions) and give me the coordinates for CN and K (remember A = CIA). Note that in this exercise no value for CO2 is given, thus the only correction we have for CaO* is to subtract apatite following the equation: mol CaO* = mol CaO - 10/3 mol P2O5. Also remember, when CaO* = a negative number, set CaO* = 0 IMPORTANT keep this in mind: A + CN + K = 100.00 This is a rule. !!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE DATA NUMBERS FOR EACH QUESTION IS ATTACHED IN THE IMAGE! 1) A = CIA ______________ CN ______________ K ______________ 6) A = CIA ______________ CN ______________ K ______________ 8) A = CIA ______________ CN ______________ K ______________ 9) A = CIA ______________ CN ______________ K ______________ 10) A = CIA _____________ CN ______________ K ______________ 13) A = CIA _____________ CN ______________ K ______________ 15) A = CIA _____________ CN ______________ K ______________
Chemical weathering plays a crucial role in the alteration of major-element geochemistry and
mineralogy of siliciclastic sediments. Most of Earth’s exposed crust is unweathered plutonic rocks,
most of which have a chemical index of alteration (CIA) value of ~ 50. This lab considers the
geochemical and mineralogic changes when such rocks are exposed to acidic solutions in the
weathering environment by calculating the CIA values for 7 real rocks from Australia. After
erosion of the profile, this weathered material then becomes clastic sediment.
*****************************************************************************
Read all of these instructions carefully. There are questions and problems along the way
that need to be answered.
CIA = Al2O3 / (Al2O3 + CaO* + Na2O + K2O) x 100
are relatively uncommon still, and to my knowledge this is the best of all available profiles.
For samples 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15 you need to do the following things:
1) Calculate CIA (remember to use molecular proportions) and give me the coordinates for CN
and K (remember A = CIA). Note that in this exercise no value for CO2 is given, thus the only
correction we have for CaO* is to subtract apatite following the equation: mol CaO* = mol
CaO - 10/3 mol P2O5. Also remember, when CaO* = a negative number, set CaO* = 0
IMPORTANT keep this in mind:
1) A = CIA ______________ CN ______________ K ______________
6) A = CIA ______________ CN ______________ K ______________
8) A = CIA ______________ CN ______________ K ______________
9) A = CIA ______________ CN ______________ K ______________
10) A = CIA _____________ CN ______________ K ______________
13) A = CIA _____________ CN ______________ K ______________
15) A = CIA _____________ CN ______________ K ______________
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