Chemical weathering in two Adirondack watersheds: Past and present-day rates

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 1986 Chemical weathering in two Adirondack watersheds: Past and present-day rates RICHARD APRIL; RICHARD APRIL 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York 13346 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ROBERT NEWTON; ROBERT NEWTON 2Department of Geology, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts 01063 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar LAURA TRUETTNER COLES LAURA TRUETTNER COLES 3Department of Geology and Geography, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information RICHARD APRIL 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York 13346 ROBERT NEWTON 2Department of Geology, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts 01063 LAURA TRUETTNER COLES 3Department of Geology and Geography, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1986) 97 (10): 1232–1238. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1986)97<1232:CWITAW>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation RICHARD APRIL, ROBERT NEWTON, LAURA TRUETTNER COLES; Chemical weathering in two Adirondack watersheds: Past and present-day rates. GSA Bulletin 1986;; 97 (10): 1232–1238. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1986)97<1232:CWITAW>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Rates of chemical weathering in two forested Adirondack watersheds were determined from mineral and elemental depletion trends in soil profiles and from input/output budgets based on precipitation and surface-water chemistry. Long-term rates of weathering have averaged about 500 to 600 eq/ha·yr for both watersheds since the glaciers retreated from the region about 14,000 yr ago. Present-day denudation rates average 1679 eq/ha·yr in the Panther Lake watershed and only 198 eq/ha·yr in the Woods Lake watershed.Mineral weathering reactions in both watersheds involve primarily the dissolution of plagioclase, potassium feldspar, and hornblende. Mass balance calculations, however, indicate that hornblende weathers in disproportionately large amounts in the Panther Lake watershed relative to its abundance in soils and till. Cation exchange in the glacial till mantling the Panther Lake watershed may also play an important role in controlling surface-water chemistry in the basin.In the Panther Lake watershed, the current rate of weathering, which is about a factor of 3 greater than the long-term average, may reflect a recent adjustment for higher hydrogen ion fluxes brought about by acid deposition. The capacity of the thick till deposits in the Panther Lake watershed to neutralize acidity is ultimately reflected by the circum-neutrality of Panther Lake. In the Woods Lake watershed, the soils and thin till deposits cannot effectively neutralize current acid loadings and, therefore, Woods Lake is acidic with a pH below 5. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.