Chemical weathering indices and how they relate to the mechanical parameters of granite regolith from southern China

Abstract

In most cases, chemical weathering reduces the strength and stability of granite regolith and increases its water sensitivity. When combined with external agents such as climate, these alterations facilitate geomorphological evolution, such as gully erosion in hilly regions. The lack of fundamental understanding about how gully erosion forms have led to an increasing trend of gully erosion in recent years. Because the weathering-controlled properties of granite regolith have a significant effect on gully development, it is vital to assess the chemical weathering degree. However, despite extensive studies on quantifying weathering degree using chemical weathering indices, less is known about how these parameters are correlated with the mechanical properties of granite regolith. To this end, a typical weathering profile is established for granite in Jiangmen, China. This paper investigates the chemical weathering of granite, evaluates the appropriateness of previous chemical weathering indices, and correlates them with the mechanical parameters of granite regolith. Several suitable indices, including CIA, Bases/Al2O3, Bases/R2O3, ba1, ba3, CIW, Imob, and PIA, are selected and correlated with the mechanical parameters. These indices apply well, with some scattering when they are correlated with the internal frictional angle of granite residual soil. This paper provides a comprehensive datset regarding the physical, mineralogical, petrographical, geochemical, and mechanical properties of granite regolith, and enhances the understanding of chemical weathering, especially its correlations with the mechanical properties of regolith.