Chemical weathering rates of silicate minerals / Скорость химического выветривания силикатных минералов

Chemical weathering of silicate minerals results from the differences in the thermodynamic conditions that existed at the time of mineral formation and that of ambient conditions at the earth's surface. The solid state characteristics of silicate minerals, generally established at high temperature and/or pressures, continue to be reflected during weathering through mineral compositions, crystallographic structures and the petrographic fabric and textures of rocks. The ambient processes which most influence silicate weathering are associated with the flow and chemistry of water at the earth's surface. The term "weathering" implies strong dependency on processes associated with the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. <...>