THESIS DEFENSE: Jamie Purcell – Available On-Demand!

Chemical Alteration of Granodioritic – Tonalitic Saprock and Mixed Plutoniclastic/Metamorphiclastic Alluvium: Exploring the Use of Sieving to Enhance Compositional Linear Trends

Jamie Purcell
M.S. Candidate
Department of Geological Sciences
San Diego State University
Advisor Dr. Gary Girty

Wednesday, December 10th, 2014
CSL 422, 11:30am

ABSTRACT

The Peninsular Ranges, southern California, USA, commonly contain eroded sections of regolith composed of (1) saprock enclosing corestone or (2) alluvial deposits overlying plutonic/metamorphic basement.  In this paper, we present two case studies that focus on evaluating the chemical weathering patterns and statistical properties of compositional linear trends at two adjacent sites characteristic of each of the above two types of regolith.  Site 1 is typical of regolith type (1) while site 2 is representative of type (2).  In an attempt to enhance the coverage of altered samples about calculated compositional linear trends, < 45 µm fractions were separated from saprock and soil samples and were chemically analyzed.
In p(A), p(CN), and p(K) space, saprock samples from site 1 plot about a linear compositional trend directed away from the p(K) apex. Using orthogonal projection, the average weathering intensity value, t, of the bulk saprock samples is 0.09 (± 0.04).  When the sieved Using Na as a reference frame, a statistically significant loss of 10% (+9/-8%) and 14% (+6/-5%) K and P mass, respectively, occurred during the development of saprock at site 1.  The loss of K mass is attributed to the alteration of biotite to vermiculite and mixed-layer biotite/vermiculite, while the loss of P mass is due to the dissolution of apatite.  In addition, statistically significant increases in Si (6% ± 4%) and LOI (56% (+37/-30%)) mass occurred.  The increase in Si mass reflects either, or both, illuviation of small amounts of kaolinite to the prominent crack system at site 1, or the addition of pedogenic silica.  The results of the above elemental mass changes produced a statistically significant increase in bulk mass of 5% ± 3%.
At site 2, bulk soil samples plot about a linear compositional trend directed away from the p(CN) apex.  When the Using Ti as a reference frame, 23% (+11/-9%) and 22% (+15/-12%) of the mass of Ca and Na respectively were lost during the conversion of alluvium to soil at site 2. Such losses are attributed to the incongruent leaching of Ca and Na from plagioclase.  In addition, the combined effects of the conversion of biotite to smectite and kaolinite, and the neoformation of illite from plagioclase, produced an overall statistically significant increase in LOI mass of 88% (+117/-72%).  This increase in combination with the loss of Ca and Na mass translates into a statistically insignificant decrease in bulk mass of ~2% (±7%).
The results of our work suggests that the inclusion of