Chemical Weathering in Heterogeneous Bedrock

Abstract

Chemical weathering is a natural process that disintegrates rock and supplies solutes and nutrients for plant uptake and the hydrologic cycle. The extent of chemical weathering is commonly assessed using a geochemical mass balance model (Brimhall & Dietrich, 1986). The mass balance model depends on selecting unweathered parent material to compare element mobility. The purpose of this study was to compare two 21m deep rotosonic drill cores and outcrop samples to characterize parent material and evaluate bedrock variability.