Mathematical modeling of infiltration metasomatism in a porous medium

Abstract

We construct a mathematical model describing the processes of dissolution and redeposition of minerals in a medium with a nonhomogeneous distribution of acidity. The dynamics of extraction of a mineral from a leaching solutions is investigated. We show that filtration of solutions through reduced acidity regions induces deposition, increasing the concentration of the target mineral in the solid phase; in high pH regions, on the other hand, the mineral dissolves. The stratum may retain certain reserves of the target mineral after leaching depending on the size of the reduced pH region and its proximity to the extraction borehole.