Abstract
The behavior of carbonates in natural waters is strongly influenced by surface chemistry. Such major aspects of carbonate behavior as the retention of supersaturation in the surface ocean, persistence of metastable phases, and carbonate accumulation in sediments overlain by undersaturated waters have been attributed to processes occurring on carbonate mineral surfaces. Adsorption on carbonate minerals is often strongly influenced by epitaxial considerations and dominated by strong chemical interactions which lead to irreversible behavior. It has been demonstrated for several inorganic ions that their adsorption onto carbonate mineral surfaces can lead to new surface phases, such as apatite and rhodochrosite. A variety of organic compounds have been found to strongly adsorb on carbonate mineral surfaces. However, our understanding of the role of organic matter in natural systems is significantly complicated by the biogenic nature of most marine carbonates.
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