R4: Mineral sciences of the Earth surface

[R4-10] The reason why the air in pores specifically reduces the dissolution of carbonate minerals

*Tadashi Yokoyama¹, Naoki Nishiyama² (1. Hiroshima Uni., 2. Tsukuba Uni.)

Keywords:Water film, Dissolution, Carbonate minerals, Pore

In vadose zone, minerals exposed to the air dissolve via water film on the mineral surface. It is known that the release rate of elements from carbonates are significantly reduced, compared with silicates. A major reason is that due to high dissolution rate constant of carbonates, solute concentrations in water film reach equilibrium and dissolution is significantly retarded. Another possible reasons are the differences in the thickness and length of water film between carbonates and silicates.