Poster Number 27
See more from this Division: General Discipline Sessions
See more from this Session: Geochemistry; Geochemistry, Organic (Posters)
Abstract:
In both of these examples, the Al-rich phase (biotite in California, leucite in Italy) survives alteration, whereas Al-poor phases (hornblende in California, clinopryoxene in Italy) are heavily altered. Thermodynamic modeling using PHREEQC defines intervals of pH in which 1) both phases are undersaturated (and therefore can dissolve), 2) the Al-rich phase is supersaturated and the Al-poor phase is undersaturated, 3) both phases are supersaturated (neither will dissolve), and 4) the Al-rich phase is undersaturated and the Al-poor phase is supersaturated. Model results are sensitive to the water and mineral compositions. Whereas stability of the Al-poor phase has a positive linear relationship with pH, the Al-rich phase has an upside down U-shaped curve. This is because of the U-shape of the Al3+ activity curve, which is strongly affected by Al complexation at low and high (but not middle) pH values.
Using these relationships, petrographic observations of differential alteration of Al-rich and Al-poor phases can provide important clues to relative changes in pH of paleo-pore waters, and the environments in which they altered volcaniclastic sediment.
See more from this Division: General Discipline Sessions
See more from this Session: Geochemistry; Geochemistry, Organic (Posters)