Limestone

Question 0

What process occurs when minerals are dissolved by water?

Answer 0

Solution.

Question 1

What is the following process?

CO2+H20 -> CH2O3 (Carbonic Acid) where water reacts with minerals in rocks and breaks them down.

Answer 1

Carbonation.

Question 2

Formation of a Limestone Pavement

Answer 2

1) Cap rock covering limestone, protecting it from weathering, removed by glaciation.
2) This allows rain (weak carbonic acid H2O + CO2 = H2CO) to act upon limestone and dissolve it.
3) Solution takes place in depressions called joints, deepening and widening them by carbonation.
4) Deep cracks called grykes are formed.
5) This leaves intervening blocks raised as clints, leaving the “chocolate block” appearance.
6) Sheltered and damp conditions of grykes allow vegetation growth, which decomposition forms humic acid which speeds up solution.

Question 3

Stalactites

Answer 3

Icicles of calcite formed by dripping water from cave roofs.

Question 4

Clints

Answer 4

Limestone pavement which originally was horizontal bedding planes.

Question 5

Solution

Answer 5

Occurs when minerals are dissolved by water.

Question 6

Rock Pillars

Answer 6

Where stalactites and stalagmites meet.

Question 7

Joint

Answer 7

Vertical cracks formed by cracking in the rock as limestone drys out.

Question 8

Dripstone Deposits

Answer 8

Water seeps into caves and comes into contact with air, losing some CO2. Water becomes less acidic and holds less calcium hydrogencarbonate. This allows deposits of white mineral called calcite to build up as dripstone features.

Question 9

Stalagmites

Answer 9

Rounded, not pointed like stalactites, grow as drips land on floor.

Question 10

Case Study

Answer 10

Ingleborough Area - Yorkshire Dales.

Question 11

Grykes

Answer 11

Joints widened and deepened by the processes of carbonation and solution.

Question 12

Bedding Plane

Answer 12

Clearly marked break between rock beds.