Observed Silicate Mineral Weathering Pathways in Soils

 

 

PRIMARY SILICATES                   SECONDARY MINERALS




 

 


NESOSILICATES                                                                             smectite                       kaolinite                     gibbsite

                                                                                    silicon                                      silicon                     silicon

                                                                                                            opal                                        

                                                                          iron                                                                                        Si (OH)4

                                                                                        silicon                                  

INOSILICATES                                                                                Fe oxides

                                                               calcium         

                                                                                                             calcite

                                                                                                                                                                        calcium

                                                                                                - K

PHYLLOSILICATES             biotite               trioctahedral                trioctahedral

                                                                        illite                             vermiculite

                                                                                                -K

                                                muscovite       dioctaheral                  dioctahedral

                                                                        illite                             vermiculite

 

TECTOSILICATES               plagioclase

 

                                                feldspars

 

                                                quartz                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                            possibly Si(OH)4

 

 

                                                                                    INCREASING DEGREE OF DESILICATION