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Morphology of Calcite Crystals in Clast Coatings From Four Soils in the Mojave Desert Region
Author(s) -
Chadwick Oliver A.,
Sowers Janet M.,
Amundson Ronald G.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1989.03615995005300010038x
Subject(s) - calcite , micrite , geology , carbonate , mineralogy , soil water , pedogenesis , crystal (programming language) , alluvium , clastic rock , sedimentary rock , geochemistry , chemistry , facies , geomorphology , soil science , organic chemistry , structural basin , computer science , programming language
Pedogenic calcite‐crystal coatings on clasts were examined in four soils along an altitudinal gradient on Kyle Canyon alluvium in southern Nevada. Clast coatings were studied rather than matrix carbonate to avoid the effects of soil matrix on crystallization. Six crystal sizes and shapes were recognized and distinguished. Equant micrite was the dominant crystal form with similar abundance at all elevations. The distributions of five categories of spar and microspar appear to be influenced by altitudinally induced changes in effective moisture. In the drier, lower elevation soils, crystals were equant or parallel prismatic with irregular, interlocking boundaries while in the more moist, higher elevation soils they were randomly oriented, euhedral, prismatic and fibrous. There was little support for the supposition that Mg 2+ substitution or increased (Mg + Ca)/HCO 3 ratios in the precipitating solution produced crystal elongation.