2023 GEOGACETA 2023 74(卷), null(期), (27-30页)
This paper proposes a new methodology to calculate weathering rates of rocks after brief periods of direct exposure to the environment. The methodology bases on X-Ray microtomography and Digital Image Analysis. Two porous carbonate rocks have been studied: a calcarenite and a calcirrudite with an average porosity of 20%. They were exposed for one year to a coastal semiarid Mediterranean climate (Nueva Tabarca, Alicante; SE of Spain). The obtained microrates indicate a higher weathering rate in calcirrudite (18.75 mm/year) than in calcarenite (9.13 mm/year). This variation is justified by the differences in the porous system of each rock and its influence on the effectiveness of the usual alteration processes acting on rocks exposed to coastal semiarid climates. In addition, obtained results validate the proposed methodology, which constitutes an important advance in the study of the weathering rates of materials. It allows a quick and quantitative way to analyse the vulnerability of rocks to specific exposure environments.