The effect of natural weathering on the chemical and isotopic compositions of biotites

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
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Abstract

The effect of progressive natural weathering on the isotopic (Rb-Sr, K-Ar, δD, δ18O) and chemical (REE, H2O+) compositions of biotite has been studied on a suite of migmatitic biotites from the Chad Republic. During the early stages of weathering the Rb-Sr system is strongly affected, the hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions change markedly, the minerals are depleted in light REE, the water content increases by a factor of two, and the K-Ar system is relatively little disturbed. During intensive weathering the K-Ar system is more strongly disturbed than the Rb-Sr system.

Most of the isotopic and chemical modifications take place under nonequilibrium conditions and occur before newly formed kaolinite and/or smectite can be detected. These observations suggest that

  • 1.

    (a) “protominerals” may form within the biotite structure during the initial period of weathering, and

  • 2.

    (b) only when chemical equilibrium is approached in the weathering profile are new minerals able to form.

Suggested Citation

Clauer, N., O’Neil, J.R., and Bonnot-Courtois, C., 1982, The effect of natural weathering on the chemical and isotopic compositions of biotites: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 46, no. 10, p. 1755-1762, https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(82)90115-6.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The effect of natural weathering on the chemical and isotopic compositions of biotites
Series title Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
DOI 10.1016/0016-7037(82)90115-6
Volume 46
Issue 10
Year Published 1982
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 8 p.
First page 1755
Last page 1762
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