The influence of rock weathering on the genesis of gypsum and carbonate in some Australian arid zone soils

Abstract

Some chemical and mineralogical properties of soils and rocks (fresh and weathered) from a part of the Australian arid region, were examined. The bicarbonate ion is dominant over the chloride ion in both the groundwater, the surface runoff, and the soil salt solution. This lack of similarity of ionic ratio with sea water indicates the negligible influence of oceanic salts. Most of the halite, gypsum, and secondary carbonate, were formed by the chemical weathering of the pyritic, calcareous and dolomitic phyllitic shales. Aeolian activities are partly responsible for the deposition of the locally derived salts in the soils that overlie the quartzites and sandstones.