Professional Documents
Culture Documents
of Mineral Alteration
and Weathering
icromorphology
of Mineral Alteration
and Weathering
Jean E. Delvigne
- 9 NOV. 1998
MIneralogical
ABsod.iltlon of canada
Associallon
du
mln~ralogique
C~nada
CR51l~
editions
J 11
within partly weathered primary minerals. A subheclral crystal of ol1:hopyroxene is partly weathered to
greenish yellow sme,tite arrangcc..l in a subparallcl
banded texture" The rtrst rormed smectite is devel-
EDITOJ\
Rub(;!"t F. Martin
Inl"o 1000
Mot.~ ine.
PHOTOCNGJ\AVER AND
anu
142.
PRINTER
C()LL'\BOR.~nON
WITH
ORSTOM
lnsLitut fran~-ais de recherche scientiJlgllc
pOW" le Je\'doppemenL en Cooperation
213. rue La Faycttc
75480 Pa.ris, France
e-mail: diJfusion@.boncly.orsLOm.fr
Preamble
The Mineralogical Association of Canada, in collaboration \Vitll ORSTOM, is proud to bring you tll.is
Alias if ,l-JicromorpholoBY c:F Mineral I1heraUon and Weatherins. It represents the distilled pearls of wisdom of a
master in the fIeld. I have learoed a great deal in working with Jean Delvigne to make this book a reality. I
now look at igneous and met.lf11orphic rocks in thin
section from a new perspective, and with new insight.
I acknowledge the in.flueoce of Fran~ois Soubies, environmental mi.neralogist and mineral collector extraordinaire, an employee of ORSTOM formerly at the
Laboratojre de Mineralogk, Universitc Paul-Sabatier,
in Toulouse. Thanks to him, and to his enthusiasm, I
fIrst met the author, and learned about tlle wealtll of
information in the completed manuscript that became
tllis book. Vicki Loschiavo helped me to cope with
chapters and figure captions, and to deal with competing commitments. I was ver)' fortunate to count on tlle
same creati.ve team that produced our SpeCial Publica(;on Number I: PielTette Tremblay, Publicity Coordinator of the Mineralogical Association of Canada, Michel
Guay, and Jean-Claude Cote. I hope that whoevel- is in
tllC audjencc, soil scientist, clay mineralogist, economic geologist, agronomist, or petrologist, wi1l find
here new insight into the multifarious paths that rocks
take to adjust to tllcir new surroundjngs near the
Eal1:h's sUI-face.
I rl
Each rock-fol-ming mineral has a story to tell. Furthermore, much information about the starting point
in these transformations emerges from a study of the
rock's textural attl-ibutes. One must simply be shown
what to look for in Ol-del" to l"Ccognize the clues. In this
book, Jean Delvigne patiently t;]kes the reader along
unfamiliar paths. At tllt' beginning of this atlas, the
rocks all look veil' familiar, as the adjustments are
incipient. Then, as one progresses through tllC book,
the roch look less and less familiar, until virtually
nothing is left of the original high-temperaturl' a~sem-
Robert F. Martin
Professor, Department of Earth
and Planetary Sciences, McGi11 University
Editor, The Canadian .Mineralogis(
Preface
Daniel Nahon
Professor, University of Aix-Marseille III
TIUV'TU pEL
(Hcraclitus, 500 BC)
Felix CJuj potuit rerum cognosce re causas
(Virgil, Georgics 11, \'erse 489)
Foreword
\1 H 1III 1 "~I 111 rll' " \I<~, many soil scienbsts and others working in Geology,
Geochemistl") and other Earth Sciences
seem to ha\ c neglected fundamental
deso'iptive work in the field (cartography, detailed
descliptions of weathering profiles and of the landscape, accurate location and distribution
their samples), and most of the primary pctrographic methods
usually employed in the laboratory (e.g., bulk dlemical
analyses, grain-size analyses and mineral separations),
The observation of' their samples, at the scale olTered
by the optical microscope, is often reStlicted to the
study of a few thin sections prepared from selected
samples, whose exact and relative position in a pronk
and landscape has been recorded in a cursory manner
only. In fact, yOlmg scientists have a strong inclination
to proceed djrectly to the ultramicroscopic scales.
Such observations often yield up-to-date results publishable as short papers in the best international journals or presented in international congresses. Few
optical photomicrographs are usually presented.
or
processes. Many books hav'e been IJublished concerning the micromorphology of soils. These books cootain
sufficient descriptions and illustrations of general
micromorphological r~~atunos, which are not cov'ered
here. -nle scope of this hook also is restricted to the
illustration of alteration and weathering IJroce,ses and
features. Vcr)' few details on the geochemical
processes inwlved are presented. Other books (e,g.,
Nahon 1991, White &. Brantlcy 1995) give detailed
explanations about the geuchemiL'al process.:s and
reactions involved in rock weathering and soil genL'sis.
All the photomicrograph.s ha"e IJcen made by the
author with the help uf a LEITZ polarizing microsL'ope
eCjui[lped with a \VILD Photoautomat camera. Except
for very old photomicrographs, all the more recent
I)hotos have been recurded on KODAK Ektachrnme
64T color-reversal film. This uniformity allows a bcrter homogeneity of colors and of cn]arg.:ments of dll
the pictures shown throughout the book.
Most samples were collectecl by the authur during
his numerous years of research in Zaire (1956-1961;
now Democratic Republic uf Congo), in Cote d'h'oire
(1962-1976) and in BrJ.zil (1980-1987). Most of the
thin sections of these- samples were made in the Laboratoire de Petrographje, OHice de la Recherche ScientifiCjue et Tedllliquc Outre-lVlcr (ORSTOM), Abidjan,
Cote d'Jvoire, either by the author lumselC (w1til
\ 974) or by Claude Hanri')n, who has directed the
technical part of this Laboratory since 1973.
Some samlJles and thin sectjons have been giv-en or
cordiall) lent by other scientists ot'the ORSTOM group
or affiliated with thi? universities in whjch the author
worked. Where this is the case, the name oC the donor
is given in the caption of the phot.omicrograph_ Otherwise, samples and thin sections come from the author's
collection. Wherl' pO' 'ble, the short bibliograph)'
includes the works in which these samples or thin sections are described more fully. The gencrallist uf references, given at the end 01' the book, is reduced to a
minjmum, and conce-rns only those books, thesl's and
papers in which the micromorphology or products of'
vV'eathcring processes is specially studied J.nd illustrated.
Only six magnifkations were used (x] .6, x2,S, x4,
x6.3, xlO and x16) f()r all the photographs in this atlas.
Each photograph is printed with the magnification
Acknow ledgements
1111
'I,' I '
I
and studying the thousands of thin sections tllat form the
bas):> of hi:; information, ami while
viewing the thousands of slides from
which illustrations were selected for this book, the
author has often recalled all the individuals who have,
either by their work, or through their help or their
advice, participated in the preparation of his hook and
contributed to its production,
meetings and Jiscussions, greatly improved the geological knowledge of the auUlOr and has helped him in
selecting suitable areas of the countTy,
The author thanks also all technical people of nis
Laboratoire de PetrographiC et Mincralogk des Alterations oC ORSTOM, in Adiopodoumc, Cote d'Jvoirc:
MM. Lagou Kouadio Marcel (X-I-ay diffraction), Deme
Hamadc and Wayou Norbert (preparati.:lIl of samples),
Coulibaly Sissouro and Koffl DakO<l (preparation of
thin sections), who h,lve, during fllaJ1Y years, helped
the author to acquire acrurate aJlJlyses;md IJerfect thin
sections.
Particular gratitude is expressed to my rriend
(laude Hanrion, Tecluucal Director of the Laboratoire
de Pen'ograpbie or ORSTOM in Cote d' /voire, who
prepared and finished most or the two thousand thin
sections of the author's collection. His care, constant
anention to all the technical problems, supervision of
the men and material of the Laboratory, control of a] I
the steps ill Ule preparation or the thin sections, and
painst,1king work in the impregnation of the soft samples, along with Ule daily long periods of sawing of tbe
rocks and indurated materials, of gluing and thinning
of the slides, and finalJ.~ of controlling of the correct
thickness of tht final thin sections, all ha\'e allowed the
author to have at his disposal wonderful tbi.n sections
of fresh or weathered rocks, of soft soils and of
indurated materials. Without the careful work of C.
Hanri 011 , the complete illustration or this Atlas would
hav~~ not been possible,
The author thanks also all h.is colleagues who nave
given or lent samples or thin sections from their collections and whose conn'ibution has greatly enhanced
the slide collection or the author. Among thelll arc::
Ikuno Boulange and Franyois Soubies, ORSTOM,
formerly of the Instituto de Geociellcias of the L1niversidade do E"tado de Sao Paolo (LISP), in Br'azil, and U1C
Universite Paul-Sabatier in Toulouse, France, respecliv'ely,
Sonia Maria l3arros de Oliveira, Magda l3ergmaJl,
Luciana Maria Lopez, Silvia Regin>1 Soares SiJva Vieira
XII
wm
-n1t'
Table of Contents
PREAMBLE
PREFACE
VlI
FOREWORD
IX
Xl
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SYSTEMS OF FISSLlRF.S .
43
43
44
48
DISCUSSION
50
PART 2.
PATIERNS OF WEATHERING
53
CHAPTER 4.
MICROMORPHOLOGICAL
DESCRJPTIONS ..
55
55
INTRODUCTION
PART 1.
GENERAL CONCEPTS
CHAPTER 1.
WEATHERING AND ALTERITES ....
7
8
DEHNmONS
26
26
27
28
30
3I
35
35
IN THE T(WOSEQUENCE
36
37
IN THE LANDSCAPE
CHAPTER 3.
THE SYSTEMS OF PORE-SPACE
DEFINITION, CLASSlIll:\ TION
39
.
39
CONTACT MICROSYSHMS .
40
PLASMA MICROSYSTEMS
41
41
Prima~v
plaSffias ..
Secondary plasmas
SECOND..\RY POROSITY
57
....
57
.
.
58
59
80
80
80
CHAPTER 2.
SAMPLING
iN THE PROrlLE
42
82
82
85
87
91
CHAPTER 5.
PARTLY WEATHERED MINERALS
123
125
,l1'icroporosilX
.lIesoporosicy
.
.
123
126
126
126
PART 3.
ALTEROMORPHS
149
CHAPTER 6.
DEFINITIONS
151
CHAPTER 7.
PRESERVATION OF SHAPES
AND VOLUMES
[so-Cllreromolphs
,.1[c50-altcroworphs .... '
Kala-oh cromorphs
P,eudomorphs
,.. ..
Echino-ClltcromnrpIL\ .
Phant o-alteromorphs
C')'[-'lo-alreroulOrphs ..
171
171
172
173
174
CHAPTER 8.
THE CONTENT
OF ALTEROMORPHS
205
Holo-alreromorph:; . . . . . .
KOilo.aircromorph., ' . . . . . . . ..
.1 Poro ~alleromorph.\
.
PO[(E VOllJM
.
.
.. .
CClllroporo-a!wromorphs
PhylJoporo-olterorJJorphs
Rcr i poro-a Ireromorphs . . .
,
,
, ..
221
221
223
224
225
237
238
238
242
CHAPTER 9.
CRITERIA FOR A GENETIC
CLASSIFICATION
XIV
206
. 206
. 206
BotT/o-a}tcrornorphs .
G/omcro-altcromorphs ...
Sepf o-altcromorphs
PolyBenclic a}lcro/IJurph,
Polyphasc alteromorphs
307
CHAPTER 11.
"PORO"-ALTEROMORPHS
AND FURTHER EVOLUTION
315
CHAPTER 12.
DISCUSS rON
239
345
CHAPTER 13.
DEFINITIONS
347
LlTI'lOREUCS ' ,
347
347
Al TERORr:L.ICS . '
PmORFUCS
'
348
CONeRE'nONS , . '
148
PISOLlTHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
348
CHAPTER 14.
COMPOSITION, ORIGIN
AND MORPHOLOGY
349
'
LITIIOREl.ICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AlTEROREL.lCS
AlIochrhonous aherorelics
Ilurochrhonolls ahcrorelic.I'
349
349
Composition
Point or oriHin
iHorpholoBY ,.
PmOREUCS
343
PART 4.
LITHORELICS,
ALTERORELICS, NODULES,
PISOLITHS ...
221
COMPOSITE ALTERO,\-10RPI'h
CUMUIO-;\LTEROMORI'I-IS ,
..-I !I'eoporo-a!reronlOrl'hs
154
154
154
307
153
154
CHAPTER 10.
ALTEROMORPHS AND PROCESSES
OF ACCUMULATION
.
349
350
.
361
361
, ..
361
362
259
259
259
277
363
CHAPTER 17.
PISOLITHS IN BAll XITE _
425
PHYSIC\l. DIS}\(';GR~C:\T1Ui'
363
INTR()[)Ul'TIU~'
425
Proce.ss of JisoggreBafion
Ireatherahi/irJ ....
363
CHAPTER IS.
EVOLUTION
363
CHEMIC:\L WEATHErU1\'G
364
CENTRIPET.-\L CORTIFICATIOJ'o,;
378
378
378
379
CHAPTER 16.
BRIDGED NODULES
AND DEVElOPMENT
OF IRON CRUST . .
EXTENSION
or
MICROMORPHOLOGY
.... _ .
nuclei
concentric and incl!fconneninf/ corrice, ..
larBe ,'o/llmes oj'plasma ..
small "olumes ,!{plasma .... ,.
DISCUSSION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
425
426
426
389
389
390
403
403
403
4-03
415
415
415
The
The
The
The
PHOCESSES OF FORMATION
389
...
416
416
416
416
417
427
428
428
428
429
429
429
429
443
443
443
443
44-3
CHAPTER 18.
SECONDARY OXIDES
AND HYDROXIDES
459
REFERENCES
AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
469
lbm
469
REFEI\EN ES
IN THE
Trxf .
S..\MPLES
DESCRIBED
470
GLOSSARY
473
INDEX
479
495
417
xv
Introduction
* ,'11
end
or
to est.imate the extent of weathering and evolution or soils and their nuh-ient contC'nt as unwc:athered
prima.ry minerals (weatherahle mi.nerals, lithorelics);
to eventually \'isuaIL-:e tlw supergene enrichment:; or concentrations of residual or neofonlled
minerals conrailYing economically important elements
(AI, Ni, Cu, Cr, Ti, Au, etc.), tn specify the mineralogical structures or morphological textures in which
these elements are incorporated or concentrated, md
to give iml)ortant Jata about tile genesis and the history
of these mineral deposits, a.nd
to identil'y the processes of evolution and degradation of" building materials subjected to physical
stresses (road pavement a.nd building stones), or to
aggressive climatic C'nvirOlunents, ;lJ1c\ to pollution
phenomena (building materials ilncl historical monumenls), and to hring, in somt' cases, some solutiom to
the problems raised by their preservatiun and repilir.
to
INTRODUCTION
hypogcnc processes. lvlany primary minerals, as Uleyoccw' at the base 01" the weathering prof11e, are not
lTuly primary minerals. Independently of the later
pedogenetic [)rocesses, they have commonly first been
subjected to hypogene processes that have partly or
completely replaced them by secondary minerals, of
hydrothcnna.l or metamorphic origin, for example.
Th",se seconda')' minerals are considered, by pedologists and geologi.sts ,"vho study surficial weathered coy
ers and soils, to bt' the primary minerals of their
weathering profiles_ This coml)!ex concept \-\-,11 be
taken into account in the development of the following
chapters and .in their illustrations_ See, for example,
the chaptt'r concerning polygenetic alteromorr)hs.
~.f!
'I" I giws
to
throughout the book: the main feature consists of an intermineral network of open pores (Part I) that surrounds
partly developed alteromorphs in which denticulate rrmnants of clinopyroxene and a sec-onoar)' smectite-group minera I are dearly recogni.zahk (Part 2), The easy circulation of
percolating waters through the intermineral network is
responsible for erosion and deposition of materials and. consequently, for the irregularities of its walls; it is al~o responsible for the incipient degraclation of the smectite-group
mineral and for the occurrence of an external rim of coloreo
material by absolute and relathe cnrichments 01' iron ox)'hydroxides (Part 3), For a more detailed explanation, see
photomicrograph 056,
CHAPTER
11 "" 11
weathering has t\\'Cl cUflercnt but
complementary meJllings. On the one hand,
it designates all processes involved in rhe transfonnarion, the appearance, the appearance or the persistence of rnineral ~pecics, including all
chemical reactions and all movements of elements or
of materials involved in these reactions. On thp other
band, where used as a modifier, it represents also thl:
wear.herins profile and the weac hcreJ marcrial itse Jf,
formed under the influence of a wcathering process,
and occurring be.t\veen the unweatherec! rock that
makes up t!1P basement and the soil horizons.
T
T
Summary
Weathering is a supergene process by which primary minerals, of magmatic, metamorphic or sedimentary origin, rendered unstable in the upper
part of the Earth's crust, are destroyed and
replaced by more stable secondary minerals. generally associated with a newly developed porosity. The minerals formed under the supergene
conditions prevailing in tropical regions are generally hydrated or hydroxylated silicates and
oxides or hydroxides of the least mobile tri- or
tetravalent elements: AI, Fe, Ti. Mn, ere. Hydrated
or hydroxylated silicates and carbonates of divalent elements (Mg. Ca) also are formed under
temperate or dry climates.
Silicates and ox)'hydroxicle~ are not the only minerals to be formed in alterites and related superficial
horizons. Indeed, under particular geoc..:hf'micaJ environments, specific mineralogical composition of the
parental material, ,U1d under 10o,1 c1ima6c or topographic conditions, various anions also may be
il1\"olwd in the reactions and fonn carbonates, sulfate.s,
nitrates, phosphates and haLdes, which will crystallize
either in the residual rocks or in the lower part.~ of the
topography.
Under more arid conditions and over metallic..:
vei.ns and orebodies, the abo\e non-silicate secondary
minerals .:Ire very commonly formed; in fact, they can
be vcry useFul i.n prospecting and mineral exploration.
They Illay fonn insoluble and characteristic mineral
pJ.rageneses, which are maintaine.d in the weathered
mantles: mctalliferousdeposits (ofCu, Cr, Pb, ll, elc.)
commonly arc capped by such a residual mantle, rich in
carbonates, sulfates and other non-silicate minerals.
I'Jlcvlh
rol7ility
(2) The presence of crystalline and chemical discontinuities: the occurrence, number and di..stribution
01' defects or discontinuities, such as fissures, cracb,
and cleavages, which cut the minerals and divide Ulem;
the occw-rence of stTucnu-al, chemical or mineralogical
discontinuit.ies such as rn,-in planes, chemical zonations
and inclusions.
ORDER OF WEATHERABILlTY
the central part of the alteromorph. is surrounded by irregular margins of an aluminumbearing smectite-group mineral (nontronite).
whose aluminum content cannot be explained
except by a simultaneous initiation of weathering
of the adjacent aluminum-bearing minerals. such
as plagioclase and the pyroxenes.
MINERAL PATTERNS
00 I, 002
OUVINE-BEARING
CUNOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled at outcrop
Intramineral features:
intrarnineral cracks
in olivine
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
Single cryst.al of
olivine, colorless in PPL and
second-orocr bright green in X PL,
exhibits an irrcgubr and sinuous
outline. The grain is i11 contact with
smaller grains of c1inopyroxene,
and shows an incomplete rim of
pinkish orthopyroxenc. In XPL, the
rim 01' orthopyroxene, at the right
edge of the photomicrograph, is
pUl-plish blue, whereas another part
of it, at the bottom and left edges, is
uniformly colored in shades of
brown. The point of interest here is
the presence in the olivine crystal of
an extensive network of intramin-
10
MINERAL PATTERNS
003,004
BASALTIC ROCK
Morocco
Sampled by A. Dekayir
at rock outcrop
Intramineral features:
twinning and zonation
in augite
Objenive: x 10
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
PART
I:
GENERAL CONCEPTI
11
MINERAL PATTERNS
005,006
BASALTIC ROCK
Kivu. Democratic
Republic of the Congo
Sampled at outcrop
Incramineral features:
inclusions and zoning
In phenocrysts
of augite
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
- 0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
J
phenocryst of
augite shows, in its core, inclusions or LTyptocrystalline magmatic
material, probably trapped as melt
(later, glass that devitritkd) during
ral)id growth. Tbe marginal part of
the crystal is sCl.1:or-zoned, and each
sector displap osdUatory zoning.
Large inclusions obsuved in the
marginal part uf the phenoclyst arc
12
anh"dral
microphcnocr)'sts of
p)Toxene and olivine. Note the regthe crystal,
ular six-sided shape
small embayments 01' basaltic
groundmass along some of its
edges, and a few irregular intramineral cracks. The basaltic groundmass contains small, colorlcss,
lath-shaped crystals of plagiodase,
in'eglllar grains of pyroxene and
or
MINERAL PATIERNS
007,008
METAMORPHIC
PYROXENITE
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I
area with the surrounding YOW1ger granites, this
p),roxene-rich rock has partly
recrystallized and, W1der tllC new
geochemical conditions, new minerals ha ve formed. Most of tlle original volume of the orthopjTOXenC
and clinopyroxene c:rY.5tals has been
replaced by newly formed hornblende, in which residues of tlle
partial.ly resorbed minerals are still
distinguishable. All these minerals
are embedded in a large, lateformed poikiloblast, which l'Wl be
either quartz or a feldspar. The pho-
PART
I-.
GEN8\Al. CONCEPTS
13
MINERAL PATTERNS
009
GABBRO
Sonora, Mexico
Sampled by F. paz
Moreno
Intramineral feawres:
parallel twins in
plagioclase
Objective: x 4
XPL
0.6
0.4
0.0 mm
010
ANORTHOSITE
XPL
~o;
F
0.0 mm
illustrate the
multipk
twins
observed in feldspar-group minerals. The first one illustrates the
simple polysynthetic t~\;nn.ing corn
monJ)' observed in plagioclase, here
of labradorite composition, in
whidl regular straight bands, in
shades of white, grey and black in
XPL, regularly alternate ulrough
the whole grain. [n the case here
illustrated, the twin plane.' arc not
exact!)' perpenJicu lar to the plane
of the thin section. For this reason,
14
[n E2 and 04, both groups are intimately combined. Such small areas
with characteristic grids may "veil
extend throughout the entire
grains. Small inclusions of quartz
an' in-egularl y scattered in the
feldspar grain_
MINERAL PATIERNS
011,012
LEUCITE-RICH
PHONOLlTE
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
euhedI'al (T1'5tal of
" '.
leudte set in a rn.ierocrystalllne
silica-umlersatul'ated
0011'
of
phonolitic lava. In PPL, thc colorless crystal shows three concentric:
lines of very small inclusions of
glass, which was entrapped in the
crystal during the la,t phases of its
growth. Note that these linear
anays of inclusions are rigorously
parallel to the external faces of the
polygonal (trapezohedraJ) crystal.
15
MINERAL PATIERNS
013,014
GARNET-BEARING
SCHIST
Southern France
Petrographic collection
of the Universite
d'Aix-Marseille III
Intramineral features:
helicitic distribution of
inclusions in a euhedral
crystal of garnet
Objective: x 2.5
PPL and XPL
1.0
0.0 mm
I"
crystal of garnet
(likely almandine) i.ntergrown
with quartz and muscovite (curved
crystals with blue interferencc-colaI's in XPL), fl-om which it stands
out quite dearly by its high relief.
The crystal shows a distincti\'C pattern of internal inclusions of quartz,
clistributed along cuned lines that
form well-developed spirals. This
so-called "helicitic" pattern is characteristic of syntectonic porphyroblasts of garnet, and is due to
rotation of the crystal during its
-...---. I
16
MINERAL PATTERNS
015,016
BASALTIC ROCK
Ocean floor
Costa Rica Rift
Drill hole S04b. Leg 70
Sample: C. Laverne
Intramineral features:
inclusions and zoning
in plagiodase
Objective: x 4
0.6
0.4
0.2
O.Omm
T"
Ill"
of plagioclase
exhibits a discontinuous pattern
of compositional zoning, characterized by tlle development of a homogeneous core surrL1unded hy a lim
that exhibits rhythmic (oscillatory)
zoning. The concentric distribution
of the zones is clear!y visible in tlle
lower photomjcrograph, in XPL.
Tne variability in chemical composition of these concentric zones is
responsible for this variation of
PART
I: GENERAL CONCEPTS
17
MINERAL PAHERNS
017,018
CALC-ALKALlNE
GRANITE
0.6
0.4
-. 02
I I
I
I
ohsened witJlin
a mineral grain arc not in all
cases ,1150 part or the SUJTowlding
matrix, as in the former examples;
inclt15inns may also develop from
the host mineral itself wldcr the
geochemical influence of a hydro.
thermal prol'l's" for example. The
central part of this plagioclasc crystal (andesine) has been partly con"erled to a random assemblage of
epidote grains (reddish in XPL),
locally associated with irrcgubr
patches of micrucrvstalline sericite
18
0.0 mm
MINERAL PATIERNS
019
MACROCRYSTALLlNE
ROCK
imerlayered in a basaltic
lava now
Ribeiron Preto, MG. Brazil
Sampled at outcrop
Intramineral features:
zoning in a crystal
of plagioclase
Objective: x 6.3
XPL
0.3
0.2
=--
0.1
=- 0.0
mm
020
AMPHIBOLE-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I
photomicrograph
shows concentric zoning de\-eloped in a phenocryst of plagiocJa~e
(Iahradorite) whose margin is much
more sodic than its central I)al"t.
Tbis concentric distribution is
dearly expressed by the different
interference-colors exhihited by the
hvo distincti vc parts of the mineral.
The centTal part is white, whereas
the outer part is nearly at extinction. The difTerence in chemical
composition is also e.xpressed by the
19
MINERAL PATIERNS
021
CLlNOPYROXENITE
PPL
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
022
AMPHIBOLlTE
Southwestern Cote
d'lvoire
Depth: 2.8 m
Intramineral features:
,-egularly intersecting
cleavages in a crystal
of actinolite
Objective: >< 10
PPL
0.2
0.1
::..... 0.0 mm
ill
1I
photomicrograph
shows a suhhedral crystal of
cli.nopyroxene surrounded by )'el10"'1' vc:rmiculite and green hornhlenrk. Incipient weathering results
in the opening of the two c1ea\'agcs
in several places in the crystal.
Large open cracb run parallel to
the main faces of the crystal, and
two thin, nearly perpeJldicuJar sets
of intersecting clea\'ages, characteristic of all members of the pvroxene
group, are clearly distinguished
o\'er the entire crystal. The devel-
20
MINERAL PATIERNS
023, 024
CLlNOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: I 1.6 m
Intramineral features:
orthogonal cleavages
in c1inopyroxene
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I,
of a euhedral
crystal of c1inopyroxcnc clearly
shows the pattern or orthogonal
cleavages that is typically developed. The cleavages are not ver)'
regular nor continuous throughout
the section. The number of breaks
and the internl between them
depend on many external factors,
such as tectoflic forces, and possiblY
also stresses induced during the fab-
1.
PART
I:
GENEf\AL CONCEPTS
or
on
21
MINERAL PATIERNS
015,016
BASALTIC ROCK
0.4
0.2
- 0.0 mm
i'
another cuhedra.l
crystal
of
clinopyroxene
(augite), this one cut along a plane
parallel to onc of the two cleavages.
Such sections of cuheural pyroxene
do not exhibit the eight-sided shape
of the basal ~ections (as in the prel'i
ous photographs), but they usually
are diamond-shaped, or they
exhibit a roughly rectangular shape.
DUling the early ~tage of its growth,
rhe crystal engulfed many indusiol1s
22
MINERAL PATIERNS
027, 028
ACTINOLITE-RICH
AMPHIBOLlTE
Southwestern Cote
d'lvoire
Depth: 1.5 m
Intramineral features:
intersecting and parallel
sets of cleavages and
transverse fractures
in actinolite
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
02
0.1
0.0 mm
T'" "
23
MINERAL PATTERNS
/>.
019
HORNBLENDE-RICH
ClINOPYROXENITE
:.
f
0.3
:::- 0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I ,
,
\ I
'of hombJencJe
,
illllstTates the nct\vork of two
intersecting cleavages. The angles at
the intersections, 124 0 and 56, are
typical of all members of the arnph.ibole- group. The regularity of that
network only appears if, as in this
case, the plane of the cut is a basal
,~ect.ion. 111 many places, the two
cleavages bave been opened by
internal movemenls, possihly as a
consequence of weathering or the
SUIToul1Jil1g rock, These newly
fonned intramineral choJlndwavs
will be preferentially followed during the weathering process, once
this resistant mineral hegins to
24
MINERAL PATIERNS
030, 03.
HORNBLENDE-RICH
CLINOPYROXENITE
O.3
0.2
0.1
:.. O.Omm
T t'
11
show
the fragmentation of a large
unwcathered crystal of hornblende
accorcling to the internal netwQI-k
of its obliquely intel'Secting cleavages. The open cleavages are the
pathways for elficient translocation
of illU\'iated material, which promotes the formation of coatings
along the interconnected intramineral pores. Once dislocated and
subjected to internal movements,
PART
I:
GENERAL CONCEPTS
25
D
Most soil pr()filc~ that are studied by peclologists
generally do not exceed a fel\l meters in depth and
consist of only the visible upper part of deep and thick
weathering profile~. Where developed uncler humid
tropical cond.itions, the lower portion 01" such a deep
profile is usually c1esClibed in a cursory manner onl),.
More detailcu observations perfonned on deep proHIes, in the field and in the laboratory, sbow that the
deeper level is generally not homogeneous. In fact, it
can be divided into several distinct horizon,;, which are
distinguished 1T0m eadl other by important dilTerences
in thei!' fabriCS, their textures and their mineralogical
composition.
sivdy develops in which pedoplasmation is the predominant factor. Just as in the 11rst-described level of
alteroplasm<ltion, thc level of pedoplasmation develops at tile expense of tile subjacent level, successively
follo'A'ing comparable patterns (speckJcd, linear, pl;nar and continuous pattems). Alveolizcd or degraded
isolated alteromorphs, large elongate patches, and vertical or obliguc roof-pendants penetrate the lower
level. Ultimately) the continuous upper !e1-eI that
results from the complete disl~uption of the rock. fabric..-; as ,) result of homogeni7.ation of the pedoplasma
contains isolated skeleton grains. These are the only
evidence of the original parent material.
As far .'IS completely weathered rocks arc coneerned, another distinction was proposed by Chatelin
(1974), main I)' on the basis of macroscopic field observations. The distinction is based on the persistence or
tile disappearance 01" the lithological textures and or the
original petrographic fabrics of the parent material.
This fundanlental concept results in tile distinction
between isalcerilcs and aJlOlcriw.\ tFig. I).
soil
alloterite
alterite
26
A horizon
B horizon
C horizon
isalterite
bedrock
- front of weathering
parent rock
FIGURE J_
PART
I:
GlNlRAL CONCEPTS
The necessary morphometric measurements are made. for each mineral grain. according to its largest apparent diameter and according
to only one of the three orthogonaJ directions. A
comparison of the lengths between the corners
of two cubes, where the volume of the second
one is double of that of the first one. shows an
increase equal to the cube roOt of 2 (= 1.26),
which corresponds to an increase of 25%. That
increase in length could be imperceptible in thin
section. Moreover. this example pertains to a
mineral that has doubled its volume during
weathering, which corresponds to a volume
increase of 100%. a value far in excess of the
increases normally associated with such transformations. This argument shows that an increase of
volume of 20%, which is undoubtedly more common in weathered minerals, will not be identified,
or even suspected. in thin section. Moreover, the
observer cannot be sure that the grain size of the
minerals, prior to weathering, is always identica.1
throughout the whole rock, and over the whole
thickness of the alterites derived from it. It must
be remembered that in a thin section, few minerals are cut through their equatorial section, and
that few grains can, thus, give exact grain-size
measurements.
If the volume increase results From an expansion
in only onc direction (weathering of micas to "ernuculite or to kaolinite, for example, \\ith an expansion
perpendicular to the plane of cleavage of the mica),
that incrf'ase will be easily seen under the microscope
because the mineral has acguired an unusual aspect
oVl-ing to the important modification of its shape. The
unegual modification of Ule size of mineral grajns is
responsible not on.ly for imlJortant modifications of
their shapes (a square may become a rectangle, and a
circle, an ellipse), but also for the partial dislocation or
fracturing of adjacent or included minerals, with
development of nctwolb of intram.ineral and intermjnera] fissures.
Many minerals are particularly senSltlve to
such constraints. Hard but breakable minerals,
such as quartz or magnetite, may be fractured or
disjointed. Cleaved minerals, such as pyroxenes
and amphiboles, can crumble into small polyhedral fragments. Minerals that are fragile owing to
the habit of the crystals, such as long prisms of
apatite or needles of actinolite, are cut up in
numerous slices and separated from their matrix.
27
28
textures are complctd)' destroyed. Isaltcritic weathered ultramafic rocks arc commonJy observed above
more recently formed alloteritic levels because
drainage conditions have been modified dlLring the
deeperting of the profile. Smectite-rich argilliplasmas
of tbe holo-alteromorllhs after pyroxenes or olivine,
dCl'eloped un<1er the conditions of restricted drainage
prevailing in the recently fomlecl 10ll'er part of the
profile, are much more easil) deformed than the crysta!liplasmas of the first-formed septo-altcromorphs.
in the deep horizons of the alterite. are not necessarily stable in the upper part of the profile.
They may be transformed
to
or replaced by more
morphs. see later) or very disturbed by the differential behavior of these argllliplasmas under alternating conditions of humidity and dryness
(kata-alteromorplls, see later). Moreover, this
katamorphic proce.ss may be responsible for the
fonnation of an irregular network of fissures,
which can be emphasized by allochthonous
deposits of iron or manganese hydroxides. These
colored deposits may appear more clearly than
the primary textures that they cut. At the scale of
the profile, such a level can be interpreted as an
alloterite. Later detailed study, at the scale of the
thin section, will confirm the isalteritic character
of such alterites: a new secondary structure is
simply superposed on the original, but still identifiable, microstructure.
True alloterites are in many cases clearly separated from the parental material by an isalteritic bori)'un. Thc~ cOITespond to fades in which a new
structure is superposed upon or has destroyed tJle original petrograph.ic structures. There is always a process
of evolution of the isalterites by plasma degradation,
internal recasting, preferential leaching, successive
concentration, late recrystallization, miscellaneous
neofonnations, ;ll1d development of new maeroporosit)' due to biological processes, To sum up, they are the
result of cxtt'mal processe.' that progressively modify
and destroy the previously inherited textures presen'ed within the isalterites.
or
Old f..:rrallitic cO\-ers, whicb commonly hav(' outlived several climatic or gcomorphological nuetuations, \'cry often comprise a thick layer of old
allotcrites that caps a more recent layer uf isalterites.
A systematic and detailed micromorphological snldy,
made on a serit's of closely spaced samples taken from
the whole prank, generally allo"vs one (a) to ohserve,
to
erroneous interpreta-
29
(d ~ 3)
subdividing into a few coherent entities a complex or heterogeneous profile. Whatever the
analysis on
1 9 ~ '13 cm 3
~
VI
study of the whole profile. The rate of the transformations is slow, and the primary and secondary textures are obscured or expressed only
V2
1 cm 3 ~ 1 9
Th . concerl oJ is(lvo/ume
The distinction between isovolumNric and nonisovolumet,ic alterites is significant and interesting
(Fig. 2). If transfonnations and replacements are made
at constant volume, the unit of volume can be used as
a basis, togeuler with the apparent density and bulk
chemical composition, to calrulate the geochemical
mass-balance. Tllis calculation allows quantitative and
exact est.imations of gains and losses of material
recorded in the different horizons of the profile in relation to the extent of their weathering and relative to
the parent-rock, The isol'OJume concepr was introduced
and used for the first time in 1955 bv/ G. tvlillot and M.
Bonifas in a study of the processes of lateJitization and
bauxitization of some rocks of Guinea in Western
Africa.
samples of an unweathered rock and the products of its weathering, are directly compared,
quantitative information is not obtained concerning the true mechanisms involved during the
weathering. The comparison only involves weight
proportions in rocks and alterltes that have very
different densities. In fact, unequal volumes of
material are being compared (Fig. 2).
The geochemical balances established according to
the isovolume method are calculated by combining the
results of the hulk chem.ic,.1 analyses with the results of
measurements of tlle apparent denSity of the analyzed
samples. This method requires special care when the
specimens Me sampled in the field and when they are
later divided, in the laboratory, into three distinct but
necessarily identical fragments to be used as follows:
the first one I'or the preparation of the tnin section, the
30
-n,e
FIGI1RE
second one for the bulk chemical analYSiS, and the third
one ror the measurement of apparent density.
The term alloterire is not synonymous with
aUochthonous alterite, but WiUl alt~lite 'that has lost
some microstructural characteristics. It may be tempting to apply the isovolumc concept to U1e aJloterites
whose autochthonous origin is obvious. It is not
because tlle original microstructures have disappeared
that weathering ha~ developed without preservation or
the original volumes, and that ful-ther transformations
have brought such major modifications that any
attempt to calculate a mass balance could not be made.
By this method, extended to the autochthonous alIaterites, it is often possible to identify and to quantify
transfers of material (SiO h AI,O;, Fe,O" CaO. etc.),
which are not nece$saril)' eA-pressed by spectacular
readjustments of the mineral contents, such as they
may appear in thin section or by X-ray diffraction.
Whatever may be the argument.>, the application of the
isovolume concept to horizons that are not strictly
isalteritic seems, in most cases, as valuable as chemical
mass-bala.nces made assuming of constant aluminum,
DURING WEATHERING
to
accumuJali()n~
The concept of relative and absolute accumulations of materials. introduced ~y D'Hoore (1954), is
very useful to describe the m icro- and macrolllorphological features of samples and horizons and to interpret the "ariations of their chemical or rnincl'alogical
contcnt$.
The doma.ins affected primarily by either
processes of relative or ahsolute accumulation (Fig. 3)
are differently distributed ,vithin profiles and along
toposequences. At a large scale, processes of relati"c
accumulation mainly operate in the upper parts,
,vhereas processes of absolute accumulation generally
operate in the lower parts or tht' tnposequences.
Ne\'(~rtheless, detailed study of the promes and of the
toposequences shows that the distribution, at a smaller
scale, can be much more complex and imhricated (see
later),
Re!aci~'e accumulation concerns all materials (chemical elements or minerals) that are- concentrated in .iiw
b,- concomitant losses of the other chemical or mineralogical constituents of the rock dW'ing its weathering.
In general, the most easily concentrated elements are
the least soluble oneS (AJ, Fe, Ti, etc.), that ['arm the
most stahle secondary minerals. such as gibbsite,
goethite and anatase. whereas the most concentrated
minerals arc the less weatherable one, (c.g., quartz,
zircon, metamorphic minera Is).
PAl\TI::~~
or
31
Absolute accumulation
Gbs
Gt
Gbs+Gt
(Otz)
1 1 1 Otz1 ,
, 1 1
Gbs
PI
Px
Bt
Gt
pt+Kln
IM
PI
Px
Bt
Otz
Otz
..
CJ
..
CJ
Relative accumulation
Exported elements
, , , Otz
, , , 1
Otz
Kin
Gt
KlntSmt
IM
Smt
Vrm
PI
Px
Bt
Colluvium
Alterite
Bedrock
, Otz
,
, 1 , f
Otz
Kln+(Mgt
Smt
(Vrm)
IM
PI
Smt
Px
Bt
FIGURE 3.
32
water. The upper part of the prallk may be characterized by slow, \enical, absolute accumulations of less
soluble elements. whereas its lower pan may be
inyaded by lateral transfers and absolute accumulations
or more soluble elements.
Depending on the clistances o\'er \,vhich these elements were tTansported, s('\'eral scales of transfer can
be distingu ished:
nano- (intra) tranjers (inrra: wirhin the boundaries
of the original crystal),
m;cro- (uan.') (rafJSF~n (Irans: throl/sh the boundaries of adjacl>nt crystals), and
Uleso-, maero- and meaa- (inter) cransfers (inrer:
alono the intermineral network of fissures passing
berw~n minerals or alteromOI"phs); the prefix is added
according to the .,-calc or to the JislQnces O\'lT v,,'hich the
transfer is observed (mineral, sample, profile or
toposequence). It is not related to the quantities of
material transferred.
Note: The term transfer. used in some
cases, does not seem to be a very suitable term
because it is already composed from the root
trans (from the Latin trans, through. and from the
Latin transitive verb ferre: to carry). The term
could be used only for the transcrystalline transfers. The term migration. derived from an in"trans"-itive verb. seems to be more suitable.
33
34
lower parts of the landscapes. infilling the earlyformed residual pore-space, and possibly involving neoformation of minerals. It leads to a
decrease of the residual porOSity.
CHAPTER
Sampling
IN THE PROHLL
J I. 'If" 1/1 ,in the weathered horizons and
in the soils, the successioo of textures and of
volumes, to dis,?"iminate pre-exisring inherited structures Irom newly developed ones,
and to establish the geochemical mass-balances among
its different parts, it is necessary to study the profile
from base to top.
'"
36
The srudy 0[' a prollle, i,solated from its geomorphological context, supplies vcry fragmental),' infor
mation only, The distTibution of the horizons. u1eir
thickness, their cht'mical and mineralogical composilions, and their micromorphoJogical characteristics arc
moditle.d not onl)' in the time scale, \\ithin the profile,
but also in the space ,scale, Iyith occurrences of lateral
mudifications along the slopes of the landscapes.
f\ccording to the local climatic, topugraphic i1/ld geological condition,s, weathering and pcdogclldic
processes may cxhibit important lateral variations
which, m01'eOl'er, ma)' h,lI'e been modilled according
to the age of the I'ariolls topogrophic ICI'els that are
stacked '1long the toposequences,
A good interpretation of these processes
and of their origin will only be possible after a
detailed and comparative swdy of several complete and graduated profiles. regularly distributed
along <l slope which is, itself. selected according to
its representativity in the whole landscape, In
other words. the true weathering profile to be
swdied is not only a vertical profile. but it is
mainly a subhorizontaJ one delimited by me
superficial topography (pedological horizons)
above and the weathering front (incipient weathering) below,
Consequently, the sampling mllst be systematic.
In a section of the slope, the samples must be distrib
uted <l,cording to a regular I'ertical grid, with a high
cknsit)' of sampling in the vertical direction. Each vertical line, which is representative of a protlle. a pit or
a hore-hole, mu~t be located according to the 10c,11
charactcri;;t:ics of the . d ope, the \ariation~ of the plant
cover. the den..sit} of the drainage net\I'ork, anJ the
geoJogical or petrographic variations. According to the
length or the slope and to its panicular characteri;;tics,
a mean toposequcnce is formed of a catena of five to
fifteen profiles separated from each other by variable
distances,
Because natural processes. such as transfer
and accumulation. generally act by gravity and are
directed down the slope. it is better to begin the
micromorphological study of a toposequence by
studying the topographically highest profile, One
then proceeds to the lowest profile and. later.
back up the slope for a new micromorphological
study. reserved this time for an inventory of the
stages of weathering and for an identification of
their successive inheritances,
or
to
disre-
the area,
to
avoid having
to
37
CrtHTER
1111"
of the optic'al microscope, one
can distingu.ish, in a rock undergoing weathering, several main types of media, characterized by their porosity and by the physical
properties of the primary and secondary minerals that
compose them. These properties, mainly the porosity,
directly influence the circulation of water ill these
media, the possibilities of ionic mobility and, finally,
the real nature of the mineral transformations and neoformations.
DHIl\,JTIOI ,
\Vater is tlle main agent of the weathering of
rocks. Its beha\ior \\ithin the various systems will be
explained below, and its inOuence 011 the different
types of weathering will be specified.
\;\feathering phenomena were attributed for many
years to free water, which percolates rapidly through
the superficial levels anu which catTies, by an arlvection process, the elements dissoh'ed in the upper part
of the landscape, eventually depositing them, by crystallization, in its lower part. Water is considered to be
responsible for the differential spatial distribution of
the secondary products derived from weathering. The
systern of fissures is tlle mam factor controlling this
process of qu.ick circulation of tlle ions. ln the plasma,
and especially in the contact systems, the processes are
different because the amounts of available water are
much smaJJer and because, consequently, the proper-
If' the available \vater is less abundant and il' its rate
of circulation is slower, the \\'catJlering process is less
aggressive, amJ only a portion of the soluble elements
is remuved.
From the basic rock of the former example.
saponitic (Mg + Si) or ferriferous (Fe + Si) secondary clays are formed at the expense of olivine.
ferriferous beidellite (Fe + AI + Si) is formed from
the pyroxenes. and montmorillonite (AI + Si) can
be formed after plagioclase. It is undoubtedly
within this poorly advective medium. in which diffusion dominates, that the more important ionic
exchanges (chemical cransmineral microcrans(ers)
are observed between adjacent domains of secondary minerals. Small quantities of aluminum
enter the compOSition of the nontronite formed
at the expense of olivine. whereas the montmorillonitic clays formed at the expense of plagioclase commonly are colored by imported iron
oxyhydroxides.
If water is sparse or dissociated. and il' its circulation is of no consequence, the alteratjon occurs without removal or elements. and even the more soluble
40
to
to
p
Plasma microsystems operate latET, once the more
weatherabk primary constituents begin tu be replaced
b;' !)h)dlitic plasmas or hydroxide minerals. Primary
and secondary plasmas are distinguished.
Primary pI .\ma.'i
A primary plasma, or ahcroplamw (I.e., a plasma of
the Ilrst generation) consists of secondary crystalline
microparticles developed at the eXI)ensc of and within
a primary mineral whose size and volume generally arc
maintained. The dumain formed in this manner is an
a/rcromorph (sce belm\- for the best definition of' this
general term). Ollling the- nrst step of its formatiun,
the primary plasma is formed either as a thin film that
surrounds the [irimar) mineral or as a thicker rim that
surrounds a residual remnant of primar)" mineral, but
always inside its original boundaries. Once the primary
With increasing extent of weathering and increasing volume of the residual pore-space, the abundance
of \vater is much greater, and its role, more important
than in tht' contact system considered earlier. Water is
stable even if, at the bas!:' of this level, the activity of'
HO can be Ies., than I. SecondaiV minerals vary
according to the conditions preYailing in this medium,
to the <luantities of water available, to the extent uf its
saturation with respect to secondary minerals, and to
the rate of its renewal. The neoformations arc composed either of' 2: 1 clay mint'rals whuse crystaLlochemical composition can still be wry close to that of the
replaced primary mineral, or of I: 1 clay minerals
whose comp,)sition is only a weak reflection
that of
the primar)' mineral, or of clJstallipla,;mas of uxyhycLroxides of the least nIobilizable chemical elemenLs
such as iron, <lluminum and titanium. To this decrease
in the: COTl1I)!exity uf the secondary minerals curresponds a decrease in the degree of chcmical inheritance.
or
vVithin such environments, in which microporosity 11Ia)'S a dominant role, the wakl' is tightly bound,
its renewal is slow, and ionic tra.nsfers occur bv d.iJlusion processes. Such transf't:rs operate in both directions: addition 01' water, and subtraction of the soluble
elements, \vhid] do not enter into the secondary
products.
Tht> ions that are liberated from the primary l11in('l'als diffuse slowl\' and migrate only over short distances before being incorporated into the ncof0n11E'd
secondary minerals. The formation of aggregates of
microcrystalline gibbsite at the expense of residual
remnants of feldspar, completely isolated in the newly
formed pore-space of the alteruIl1Ol-ph, pro\ides a
41
greSSively formed is characterized by the juxtaposition of primary plasma.s and provisional and
ephemeral skeleton grains made of undisplaced,
variably weatherable residues of primary minerals. Alteropla.smatjon is generally developed at a
constant volume and without disturbance of the
original textures, even where residual voids are
abundant. These newly formed entities, or units,
which appear at the expense of primary minerals,
are aheromorphs.
. emnJary plasmas
Secondary pla.smas develop at the expense of the
primary plasmas. They commonly correspond to pedoplasmas, and are plasmas of the seconcl generation.
42
Thl' network of this ml'gasystl'm of fissures COl11nwnh- is open, and thus arlc1\~'s l~asv circulation of
super'ficial water through the weathered levels to grcat
dcpths within the unweathercd rocks. This system
exhihits "aried and generally characteristic networks:
parallel, closely spacen and Jlnely an.lStomosing networb in schistose and gneissic Forlllat.i,)nS, an orthogonal Ill' IJOlyhedral, irregularly spacen nl'lwork in
aranites and in most cndooenic
rocks. a regular, comb
b
monlv vertical and c1o~cll' spaced nl'twork in efl'u~iv('
mag~atic rocks, dl1d para'IIe], densely spaced and originally subhorizontal nct\vol-ks in sedimentary rocks.
The thickness of the weathered horiwns is
strongly influenced bv the extent and density' of this
net\v;'l1:k of Il~sun"s a~d by its orientation and its organization. The thickest we;thered mantles are generally
devel0IJed on vertically' laye/-cJ rocks, such as strongly
inclin,'d schistosc or gncissic formations. TIle orthogonal network. which :ommonl)' is de\"(~lop~n in homogeneousl.,' structured rock, gl'ncra.ll). givcs rise to
spherical and concentric weathering, and the sizl' of
t.I1e firsl-formed boulders is related to rhe original
intL'n'al:" between the fractures. This case is observed
on granitic and. in some cases. on ultramafic rocks.
43
'I1rc
44
were altered under hypogene conditions . .'\11 the Sl'Conclal'~' minerals formed under hypogene conditions
have <1 tendency to fill the \I'hule volume of the a\'ailable sl)ace and, consequently, most alternmorphs
formed under these conditions arc Iwlo-alccromorphs,
Transmineral porosiry is generaled either by the
opening of preexisting c10serl fissures formed in the
parent rock under dle inl1lH:nce of' tectonic constraints, or by recent fraetLlling of the weatJ1cring rock
under the influences or physical, chemical and mineralogical processes, Th.e fractures cut minerals without
I'ollowing their intcrrnineral contact planes, and the\'
arc commonly se"eral centimders or decimetC'rs long.
Transm;neral poros;ry corresponds to the opening of fissures and fractures that traverse the rock
and cut the mineral without following the grain
boundaries. These fissures and fractures are commonly pre-existing within the unweathered rock,
and are caused by mechanical or tectonic forces,
These networks generally consist of parallel or
crossing sets of interconnected fractures, which
can extend over long distances and, when
opened, can easily be coated by deposits of
allochthonous origin, The transmineral networks
can be observed at the megascale of the rock
outcrop, at the macroscale of the weathered profile, at the mesoscale of the hand specimen. and
at the microscale of the thin section,
The inlerminem/ncrll'ork ''!Ipores is developed under
the inl1uence of differential mechanical hchaviors 01'
the plasmas am! thc residual unweathered miner,1Is. It
is not direeth inhcrikd from tbe parellt rock, but its
distrihutiun ;nd density can be stT<lI1gly controlled by
the pan'nt rock's texturaJ and structural patterns.
and if the elements migrate in di~solvl'd rorm, crystallaria* and other banded deposits can be observed alung
notl1 the opened and apP,lrently closed section;; of tile
intcnnineral network of pores. Similar dcpo~its of
materi:ll can aJso be observed along the tran;;mincral
networks.
DEPOSITS OF DISSOLVED
AND DETRITAL MATERIALS
Transverse (racrures are those that cut a lathshaped or acicular or prismatic mineral either
perpendicularly or slightly obliquely to its long
axis. Transverse fractures may correspond either
to
mineral concerned, generally with a slight modification of tlleir direction, or to intramineral fractures, not relieved by external transmineral
fractures, where caused by physical torsion or
bending and consequent fragmentation of the
mineral. Single transverse fractures are generally
observed in the first case. whereas parallel sets of
45
transver'se
fractures
are
more
commonly
to
or
46
An.AS
rare in weathered rocks and minerals. In contl<lSt. such alteromorphs are very Widespread in
transformations resulting from hypogene
processes: for example, the replacement of
pyroxene by amphibole. of feldspar by epidote. of
olivine by "iddingsite", and of nepheline by natrolite, generally gives way to compact and poreless
holo-alteromorphs.
This pore volume is, in contrast, inversely proportional to the \'Olllme of the imported elements or
constituents nccessan for the formation of tJ1<':se minerals, such as water molecules necessary for the formation of hydroxides and clay minerals. The richer in
soluhle elements is a primary mineral, the mort'
porous will be its alteromorpb. For the same primary
mineral, the more drastic the weathering processes.
the more easilv, and more extensively
the chemical de"
ments are removed, ami the more porous are the
resulting alteromorphs.
If some immobile elements (AI, Fe, Ti) are maintained within the alteromorph as constiruents of secondary minerals, the \';:due of the ratio of the molar
\'olume of the primary minerals (Vp) and of the secondary minerals (Vs) determines either the formation
of an interstitial empty pore between these two minerals or the formation of protective surf;lce-Iayers :Jt
the contact with tJle remnant of primary mineral. Tms
concept bas rect'ntly been developed by Velbel (1993).
Where the ratio of these volumes (Vs/Vp) is less than
onc, the primar:' mineral is easil~' weathered to a
porous alteromOlllh. vVherc close to onC'. this ratio
determines the formation of a protective layer characterized by slow diffusion of the chemical elements.
Once wholly developed, tJle altcromorph is compact
ann poreless: it is a true holo-alreromorph. Where the
r;ltio is greater than one, it determines a relative
llnweatherabj\il)' of the primary mineral under the
geochemical conditions prevailing in tJ1C alterite considered.
ment of a primary mineral by an aggregate of secondary minerals whose total volume does not fill
all the available volume delimited by the boundaries of the original mineral. Its importance
strongly depends upon the nature of both primary and secondary minerals, and therefore.
upon the we<lthering process. This, in turn, is
related to the rate of leaching of the elements
and. consequently, to the drainage conditions to
which the observed minerals are subjected. An
isalterite formed under conditions of restricted
drainage comprises only alteromorphs whose
perceptible intra mineral porosity is very minor
(holo-alleromorphs). A similar rock. subjected to
47
48
or
materials and on their mineralogicaJ and microstructural transformations becomes progrcssi\'cly more
important. The mi.s'Tation uf the ions liherated from
the resiJual minerals and from the sti II \\eatlwrable
alteropbsmas formed in the deep-scated horizons 01'
the proAle prc,eeeds by ad\ection.
The more soluble ions (Na. K. Ca) can be
displaced over long distances, at the scale of the
landscape, before being newly conceno<lted and
fixed in the lower parts of the landscapes or being
transported away by superficial networks of
drainage. The less soluble ions (Al. Fe. Ti) migrate
only over very short distances, at the scale of the
mineral or of the thin seCtion. whereas moderately soluble ions (Si, Mn. P, Ni) and ions that may
be integrated in the Structure of other secondary
products (Si. Mg. Fe and. possibly, K) have diverse
destinies according to the conditions of dilution
or concentration,
Chemical elements migrate not onl~' as ions in
solution, but also in suspension, as microparticles of
minC'rals. The occurrence of gOt'lhitt' or gibbsite ill
pores and channels can be du(" not oml)' to the precipitation uf hydroxides from \'cry diluted solutions, but
also to in .,jll/ degradation of ferro-argillans previously
deposited from suspensions of microparticlcs.
On tJw walls of the fractures, tJle lIrsl-lrlrlllC<! secondary sheet silicates a1'(' weathered either 10 oxyhydrox.icles or to other sheet silicates whose compOSition
is simpler. Walls of fractures, and, in general, all the
alloteritic levels, arc t.hc' prel'clTed site of the hydroxides of the weakly soluble metallic ions ,lIld of kaolinile. The bulk chemical and nuncralo!,.rical composilions
are simplified and homogeni7:ed in these transitional
alloteritic Ic\-els. ThesC' processes arc' widespread in
the soil-folming horizons.
Alteromorphs that result from the complete
weathering of primary minerals into assorted slllecti!egroup minerals arc degracicd slowh', with Jissolution
of part of silica and magnesium, and lilwration of iron.
Tbe portion of tJle silica not leached away is (()ll1hined
with the alwninum to foml bolinitc, eilher in situ or
in the nc'twork of pores. Iron is fhed as oxides and
h\'Clroxides, which pigment the degraded or neoformed clays. This progl'essi\'e a.nd ccntripetal degradation dnoelops along tJle nctworh of inkrmulcral
and translllineral networks of pores. !\ network of
brown-colored rims is developed around the greenculored smectite-rich ,l!tuomorphs. On onc hand, the
margin between the neighboring allerolllorphs is
obscured bv diffusion of iron, ,,-hieh forms opa~lue
deposits. On the other hanc!, the regtdality of the
PART
I:
GENERAL CONCEFTS
49
EaCh mineral has a specific spectrum of potential patterns of evolution. Consequently, within
the alterites whose parent rocks have been
weathered according to diffusion-dependent
processes, an important variability is observed in
the mineralogical nature of the secondary products. On the other hand, where weathering proceeds according to processes of advection. the
mineralogical composition of the secondary
products is simpler and more uniform,
The more \\'Ntherahk the primary minerals, theless dnstic the conditions or their weathering need to
be; they can be weathered even at the base of the profile undcr conditions or restricted drainage. Thcir
incipient weathering can even occur within thc practically unwcathered hard rock belov'i the base of the
.;ampled profile. The many kinds of secondar:' minerals fomlcd may bL' later weathered to other genera-
50
or hp - -
A2
82
or
At
_1~~g~~~~_'1
81
FIGUIlE 4.
Wb\TIIEHI:,,; OF HOR~'FIIXNIiE le; IS.. \UEHITIC PH'. 11'11 cS I1EVFl.< >l'EI J 0'" L1Lnl.~MJ'Fll A:\11 GJ\.\NIlK r.>CKS. IIESPfcTIVEL Y.
A.
:\2.
Upper level of ilic prolllc. in which previously Iormed ,mcctite i, degraded into J.lveolar pores and internal rims 01 iron ox),hyelroxjell" (meta-aiv"e()poro-altl'romorphs). G",lir" of homblcndc arc weadlcred directlv t() porous "~plo-alLerom(lrphs(hoxworks) of iron
oxvhydroxide,. Al thi' kvel 01" the prnllle, dll minerals arc w,'ath,'red.
B.
IS I.
1$2.
Note that t11e iJlicknc.,s of lh,~ isalteritic part of the proJ1le is determined, at its lower I<:'cl, hI' the IIr~t.we~lhering rninual (olivine
in the ultramaflc rock. and hornblenuc in th" gnnitic rock). Its uppu limil is del"rmined by the lower boundary of eiilier Lhe allo
lcrilic con.>r or ()f tJ)C superfiCial soil.
51
The weathel-ing of olivine to ferruginous compounds generally occur~ in recent ilows of basaltic
rocks and in deposits of volcanic ash, in wh.ich the
oli\-ine is subjected to near-surLlce weathering under
conditions of efficient drainage. Till' weathering of
olivinc to iron hydrOXides can also be obser\'ed ill
T o undertake a micromorphological description, one must progressively abandon petrographic techniques and terminology, and employ
different techniques of identification and descrip-
In contrast. the fll-sl: stL'p in the incipient weathering of a Mg-rich olivine to a smcetite-group mineral is
rarely ohsen'ed because dus primar~; mineral is the
52
ATlAS
or-
hy ilTegular rransmineral
IT)'StaJS
rraetllre~
fonning typical scpta, wl1l'Tl'a., cavernous remnanL' of plagioclase are i~ol'atcd bct',.\"eeJl thel11. In the beginning stage of
wt'athering, no int",r-plasma.mincral pores (or, "'bc-re pre
sent, onJy ,"ery small ones) itrc developed between the primary and secondary minerals. Lat.er, ollee we,llhering ha'
progn'~sed, irregular pores develnp
gi',~n
in t.he
CHAPTER
Micromorphological Descriptions
11.
The following main morphological and mineralogicalleanlres must be obscn-ed and described:
The extent of weathering. which is expressed by
estimating ti1e modal perccntages of the residual minerals and of their replacement phases, the percentage
of voids necessarily being included in the latter tlgure.
The organization and distribution of I)athway~
along which weati1ering progresses through the primary minerals, and Ule inJluence of the cr)'stallographiC characteristics of each primaY)' mineral on the
development and distribution of secombry product,.
The shape and size of residual fragments, their
internal fI~suring and fragmentation, and the orienta,
tion of these fragments,
The mineralogic,ll nature of the residual grains
and of the secondal-~' products and, c\'entually, the
variations recorded in the coloration, orientation and
the grain/size of the secondary minerals.
The organization and distribution of the secondary pores FOffi1ed by the weathering processes relaD\'(: to the secondary products and to ti1e neighboring
minerals.
The possible occurrence of several generations
of secondary minerals generated from the same primary mioeral under the successive intluences of sev-
complt'tely weathered, .md in wh.ich the v()ltune proportion 01' du:" residual primary material does not exceed
2.5%,. All thc~e perccntages arc estimated according tu
the areas of primary ,lOcl seconJaJ;' minerals obsen-ed and
mea<;ureJ in the plane 01' the thin section.
In the case of relict minerals isolated in nearsurface materials .1Jld sediment,. an estimate of the
degree 01' weathning is rClaliyely easy if the original
outlines of these minerals are well presen-cct a1H.1
rtrllain identillable. This is true in the cas.... of'minerals
that ba\'(' bet'n \\c.athercd aft<:'r their transport anu
\\hose seconual;: products Jnd pores havc remained
int,let. [-Iowe\"l~r. in most cases, "ccondal;' pr-ududs
ha\"(: been remo\'Cd during transport of' the material,
:lI1d the original sizes and shapes 01" the mineral grains
dre no lunger identif'i.1ble. The remnants arc embedded
within and directly in cont.1et with their ncw surI-ounding matrix, without relics of alteroplasma.
In the case of' part!) \\-eathered primary minerals,
\\ hich are of the san,... mineral s[wcics and which arc
the cornponcnts 01" a partly wcathered rock. cstimating
the percentages is more c!imcult. In the "olum.:: cut b~'
the plane of the thin section, all grJins of the same
species ha v.. . not n,'cC':'sari l:' reached tile same degree
01' weathering, especiall y if the alteritc is developed in
successive cortices concentrically developed around a
r....sidual boulder, in whidl cas..' the \walhcl"ing is
necessarily 1)l"Ogrcssivc and gradual. In this casc, it is
better to ohsenT sepilratel)' each concennic band, and
to attribute to each a different class (numh,"r).
ln the CilSC of more homogeneollsly \\"(~a:thercd
rocks, in which all graills of ule same specie.> have
reached a similar degree of weather'ing, one mmt keep
in mind that the plane of the thin sec1.ion does not necessarily cut all grains through their center. Cuts that correspond to more exce.ntric sec-rions will appear mUCh
richer in sccond.:u;' produCTS than seetiom through the
core, especially' if these minerals are weathered in a
peril)hera! or centripetal manner. The smaller the section of such a grain. the more weathered it appears. In
the case of alterom0I"[)llS in which pores arc clearly distingllislwc], the volume proportion or the \'oids must be
addeei to the volume proportions of tJle .secondar: minnab in order to correctly estimate the degree 01' weathcring reached by the. mineral species concerned.
The case of rocb considered .1S a whole, in which
not all tJ1e primary minerals arc eiistingllished from onc
another, is l1luch more difficult to resolve hecause all
tht'se mincr.1l componcnLs may exluhit \-er)' different
weatherahilities. fndced, mall)' rorks such as granites
and gneisses contain important proportions of \'cry
slowl~' weatherclble minerals, or o[ minerals tltat will
56
progress of weathcring promotes, in turn, the formatiun or a secondary network of pores, ephemeral or
permanent, which inlluence5 the rate of weathering.
The general description of U1e distribution, the
shape and the size of U1e pores follows the terminology
of Bre\yer (I %4-). This lemlinology, although conceived for the micromorphology of soils, (\In easily be
applied to the micromorphological study of' weathered
rocb and alterite.s. Ne\'ertheless, it seems diFficult to
completely avoid the genetic content of the descriptions and of U1C classification s)'stems because the
observed objects are generated from each other and
are in permanent e\'olution.
According to the dassillcation vI' BiscJom (1967a),
three main pauem~ of di.so-ihution of pore SI).l('C are distinguished: trallsmineraL intemlineral and intramineral.
NEW PARAMETER
of supergene
phYSical
or
chemical
processes. The pores generally occur along regular planes (linear strings of pores when observed
in thin section). which cut the grains without
appreciable change of direction_
This network is I;-mned under dle inJ1ucnce 01' tectonic forces (primary tnnsmincraJ tlssures and (Tacks).
Before the rock be,s-rins tl) weather. lhesc transll1inera.l
fractures are c1oscd, and generally marked by parallel
sets of thin Jineativll.5 or discoutinuities that rilll across
the primar)' minerab withollt modification of theil'
chemical composition, and without occurrence of
identifiable open pores_
In man\' cases, these inherited networks of fissures
arc the pathways along which hydrodlermal and other
hypogene processes transliwmed the trallSlxted primar)' minerals into a first generation of secondary nlinerills of hYfJogcnc origin. In this cast', the outline of the
transmineral tlssures and cracks may be emphasized by
the dcYelopment of veinlets of sec~ndary minerals
yariable or regular thickness, such as talc or actinu.lite
in fractured pyroxenes, serpentine-group minerals in
li-acl1lrcd olivinc, 01' epidote in fractured plagioclase.
The mineralogical constitlltioll of the ycinlets is
commonly specific.llly rdatecJ to Ule nature of the
(;r
PART
2:
PATIERNS Of WEATHERING
57
fractured primary mineral. The veiolets are succes-"jYely composed of different secondary minerals,
depending on the nature 01" the transected primary
mineral. In spite of this rule of thumb, the mineral
content of the veinlets is in general more uniform and
related to the kind of rock traversed, for example.
vcinlets of tak through pyroxene-rich rocks, or of a
serpentine-group mineral in olivine-rich rocks,
regardless of the nal1u-e of the primary mineral transected.
At the scale of study with an optical microscope,
no pores are c1earl~' distinguished if this kind of materi.ll is altered under hypogene conditions. Under the
influence or weathering processes. the early-formed
tr;lI1smineral fractures may be opened; this opening
allows weathering along the walls of the fractures,
with formation of secondary minerals of supugene
origin. But the main part of the open IJ'ansmineral
pore-space is observed only in partly or completely
weathered rocks. Observations rarely are possible in
the parent rock, where transmineral flssw'es typically
are closed. Weathering processe_' preferentially follow
these textural discontinuitie~. On both sides of the
tTansmineral fissure'S, the mil1erals are weathered, pan
of the secondary products can be removed slowly, and
an open system of fissures progressively develops in
which the porosity can become optically perceptible.
Another kind of transmineral pore-space, of secondary origin, may develop as, for example, curved
concentric networb of pores arOlmd residual houlders, fractures generated by internal SO'esses due to
hydration and swelling of some smectite-rich aJteromorphs, and fractures and pores developed under the
inllucnce of mass movements \\ithin the altcrites and
soils. To these types of transmineral pore-space of
chemical or physical origin, pore-space of biologic-a I
origin can be added in the upper alterite.
The primary networks of pores, mainly joints and
large fractures, may penetrate the rock over long djstances, and their dimensions (length and width) are far
beyond the scale of the thin section and of the sample.
This kind of large-scale porosit;, was discussed in the
previous secti.on (Part 1).
Smaller and straighter transmineral fissures, at the
scale of the profile or ofthc sample. may be interconnected with othel' transmineral and in term.in era I fissures and cracks, or they may extend over unsuspected
distances. This important open pore-space, although of
lower order, may be also infilled with later allochtho
nous materials coming from the upper parts of the protuc. Derived from severaJ meters higher in the profIle,
or even more. the conteot of the deposits may strongl y
58
of variable thickness; the isolated mineral grains, completely surrounded by their alteroplasmas, have an
irregular. cavernous or denticulate shape.
In slightly weathered rocks. intermineral porespace occurs as irregular, sinuous and randomly spaced
alignments of alternately open and closed pores,
depending upon tbe inclination with which the intermineral suture-plane is crossed by the fissure. This is
the reason why the intermineral fissures and pores are
rarely infUled by continuous allochthonous deposits, at
least at the beginning of rock. weathering.
In contrast, within the strongly weathered alterites,
the interrnineral network is more efficiently interconnected and opened, because it is formed and ""idened
by peripberal dissolution and chemical weathering,
and DO longer only by mechanical fracturing. The Clrcuiation of water is facilitated along such networks,
and cutanic deposits are much more widespread.
Coarse-grained or less weatherabJe primary minerals occur as isolated grains within more weathered
alterites. These mineral relic., constitute mechanically
resistant units to the deforming forces generated
within the more easily deformed alteroplasmas.
Around tbese relics, a peripheral open fissure is developed. Linked v.'ith the general pore-space of the
weathered rock by a network of radial fissures, tl1ese
generaUy open peripheral pores can be filled by illuvial
cutanic deposits.
Other types of pores may be grouped with
the intermineral pores: these are the circumnodular peripheral pores, which preferentially
surround either indurated fabric units, such as
nodules or concretions, or elements of residual
structures, such as lithorelics and alterorelics.
These fissures and pores are preferentially developed around mechanically resistant units embedded within a much more malleable S-matrix.
Theoretically, these pores form a closed envelope
that surrounds the residual or concretionary unit.
They appear. in thin section, as circular peripher'al
pores. Although these pores can be closed and isolated. they very commonly are linked with the general pore-space by a network of radiating fissures.
which are perpendicular to them. These peripheral
pores may be ephemeral; repeatedly and alterna
tively, they aloe occluded or renewed according to
alternations of the humidity and dryness within the
surrounding matrix. Peripheral pores may also be
artificially opened by drying the sample during the
preparation of the thin section.
At the contact with open J.l]d interconnected
intermineral pores, the primary minerals are partly
weathered in a peripheral and centripetal pattern. The
PART
2: PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
lntraminewl pUl'e-'1pace
59
More specifically linked with processes of alteratil'ln or weathering th.an intt'rmineral porosity.
intTamineral porosity mu~t be carefully observed. Its
micromorphological description ","ill be the object of
morc detailed studies in Pal1 3.
Intramincral pores result from chemical alteration
of a mineral in which the volume of the products of
weathering is smaller than the original \-olume of the
primary mineral. The ~hape and distTibution of these
pores within the alteroplasmas provide important criteria in the description and classification of minerals
undergoing weathering, and of completely weathered
minerals. "Vhcre the size and shape of intramineral
pores are unc\'en. and wherc they arc randomly distributed. the resulting altcromorph is an alveoporoalteromOl-ph (see below).
Weathering generally progresses into the primary
minerals in a non-uniform way. The de\elopment and
di,m-ihution of the secondary products are strongly
iofluenced by the distribution of speciIJc textural features in the- plimary minerals. Among these, the more
efFective ones arc planes or cleavage (pyroxenes,
amphibub and micas), twin planes (plagioclase and
numerous other minerals), interfaces between intergrown products of a deuteric or metamorphic reaction
(e.H., perthite, myrmekite, s)'rnpleetite, etc.), indusion-I1ch planes and planes that are the loci of crystallographic deflects. The rate of wcathel"ing is also
inllucnced by variations in the chemical composition of
the primary mine.ral (zoned minerals).
The orientation of secondary palticlt~s may ~t1so be
innuenced by the crystal Iagraphic directions of the priman mineral as, for example. in tbe case of Rakes of a
sme-~titc-group mineral in an alteroplasma after pyl"OXene or mica, and of iron oxyhydroxide microcrystals in
a cl"Ystalliplasma after a lerromagncsian mi.llel<ll. irregular' cracks " without any direct r~larionshjp to the cry~,
taJlographic directions of the mineral. are also at least
partly responSible For the uneven distribution of the
secondary products and pores. Their irregular pattern
is then cornhinecl with the regular pattern directlv
inherited from the primary mineral. This resulL~ in the
development of a complex pattern of alteration.
60
The orientation and distribution of secondanproducts are influenced by these bctors, as are the orientation an(1 distribution of the pores tllat arc associated with them, although both secondary products and
associated pores arc complementarily distributed.
Within completely weathered grains of a pyroxcne or
g,1rnet, for example, the iron oxyhydrDxides fOl-m se-pta
that mimic the networks of" ck.a\agcs and fractures
(sepw-ahcromorphs, sce below), wht:reas th.e. associated
pores arc distributed as isolated, dosed and empc:polyhedral volumes enclosed hetwecn these septa.
The shape and distribution of the pores within an
alteromorph may abo be intluenCed by th.e Cl"ystal\ographic orientation of the secondary mineral itseU and
not only by that of the primary mineral. This is the case
for smectite-rich weathering products after pyroxene.
These generally I"orm well-oriented ph}'IJoporo-alrcromorphs in which the pores are distributed parallel to the
more or less opened cleavages of the secondary mineral. without being intluenced by tllt' cleavages of the
prim31-y mineral.
Most intramineral pores arc isolated with.in the
alteromorphs. without direct connection to the tnnsmineral and intermineral pores. As a result. they arc
not reached by the free circulation of water, and they
do not exhihit cutanic deposit" of particle., transported
by such waters.
Intramineral porosity ma~ also appear and develop
at a late stage within the alteromorphs by degradation
of the t1rst-formed uu.stable alteropJasmas. The dissolution and leaching of several constituents lead to the
formation of irreguJar ahc:olar pores (mew-oJ.-coporoahcromorphs) , rimmed by new minerals formed from
the insoluble pal-t of the rlasma (goethite or gibbsite).
This new (mew-) pore-space may be random.ly distributed, or it may be concentrically distributed according
to the mineralogical or chemical variations 01 the
degraded mineral cOll5tituents.
here residual pore's
are cl.irecdy generated by weathering of the primary
mineral, the resulting alteromorph is an orrho-alveoporo-altaomorph; where they Jre generated by the
degradation (If tl1e first-formed secondary products,
t.he resulting alteromorph is a para-all'coporo-alteromorph (see Part 3).
"V
The inter-plasma-mineral pore:-space that dcye!ops between the remnants of primary mineral and tl1c
perrpherall1m of alteroplasma must also be considered
as intramineral pore-space, although it is ephemeral,
and will be replaced by a different kind of pore span>
after the complete weathering and disappearance of
those remnants (alveoporo- and ccntroporo-alreromorphs).
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
032
HORNBLENDE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
PPL
0.6
0.4
0.2
- 0.0 mm
or
PART
2:
PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
61
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
013
CllNOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled at the soil
surface
Transmineral fissures
in c1inopyroxene
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
62
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
034, 035
CUNOPYROXENITE
1.0
0.0 mm
I
large crystal of
c1inopyroxenc has been cut by
a transmineraJ fissure, along which
part of tile colorless o'iginal mineral has been transformed to greenish actinolite. The secondary
arnphibole is clearly visible in the
widest part of the banded texture
(D3), whereas along its tllinnest
parts. the fissure has gi,'en way to
PAltT
2;
PATIERNS OF WEATHERING
63
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
036, 037
GRANITIC ROCK
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvolre
Depth: 2.8 m
T ransmineral fractures
Material displacement
over short distances
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
-0.6
0.4
- 0.1
O.Omm
64
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
038, 039
INTERLAYERED ROCK
T ransmineral fracture
Material displacement
over short distances
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
-0.6
- 0.4
0.2
-O.Omm
,
the rock layers that
exhibit an i.ntermediate composition. c1inopFoxene and hornblende, derived From an uJtramaIic
rock. are more abundant and gener
ally enclosed within large oikocrysts
of feldspar. In this sample. the feldspathiC component is not weathered, whereas the malic minerals.
mainly the c1inopyroxene, afe
brgcly replaced by J saponitic clay
mineral. The wide transmineral
fracture that cuts the rock is inllllcd
with a Sl11cctiuc clay \\'host? chemical composition is very similar to
PART
2:
PATTIRNS Of WEATHERlNG
engulfed within the inAlling material. These fragments have not been
displaced, as is indicated by the relative position of the fragments of
green hornblende (C4--5). The
infil1ings seem to hI:' formed gradually with the opening of the fractUlY, smaJlmineral fragments being
randomly released from the walls of
the fracture and immediately
tTapped within the infllling material.
65
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
040,04.
HORNBLENDE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
C6te d'lvoire
Depth: I m
T ransmineraJ fracture
Material displacement
over long distances
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
0.4
0.2
66
0.0 mm
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
041
WEATHERED
PYROXENITE
Koua Bocc;a,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 6.2 m
Transmineral fracture
Material displacement
over long distances
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
043
WEATHERED
PYROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 6.2 m
Transmineral fracture
Material displacement
over long distances
Objective: x 4
PPb.6
-
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
PART
2:
PATIERNS OF WEATHERING
67
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
044, 045
LUJAVRITE
Poc;:os de Caldas,
MG. Brazil
Depth: 0.4 m
Transverse fissures
in acicular crystals
of aegirine
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
distributed and
parallel transl"t~rse fissures can
be assigned to the category of transmineral f1ssur-es, although they are
1I0t clearly seen to <"xlend through
the neighbOling minerals. Such regular orientation is indeed limited to
the acicular cr~'stals, whose particular orientation allows their eaS\'
breakaoe.
Note that the IIssures arc
b
not clearly obsenTe] in the n.eigh-
68
0.2
0.1
=--
0.0 mm
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
046
GRANITIC ROCK
Koua Bocc.a.
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 1.8 m
Transmlneral fractures
Material displacement
over long distances
Objective: x 10
XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
047
GRANITIC ROCK
BR 163, Brazil
Sampled by F. Soubies
Depth: 2.5 m
Transmineral fracture
Material displacement
over long distances
Objective: x 4
XPL
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
fracture cuts a
feldspar grain by following onc
cleavage direction of the mineral. [f
the thin coatings are disregarded, it
see.ms that the walls of the fracture"
arc mainly accordant surfaces. and
that the directions of the fracture
are approximately at right angles to
one- another. These fractures arc
formed by lateral translation of the
felelspal Ii-agments. Their opening
is not caused by dissolution, as
the margins of the fl-agments arc
perfectly unwealhered. at least at
1
PART
2:
PATIERNS Of WEATHERJNG
69
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
048,049
OllVINE-BEARING
ClINOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca.
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 12.8 m
Transmineral fracture
Material displacement
over long distances
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
0./
f
~
I!
transmincral fracture
runs across a grain of olivinl"
that has been
replaced by
"iddingstite" during an early step of
hypogene alteration. Many intramineral cracks (protodastic fractures) are still \isible, and they
appear as dark, curved, mu) lineaments coated with iron oxides
delived from the oxidation of thin
lameUar grains of magnetite, The
reddish browTl "idclingsite" is highly
birefl'ingent, and is homogeneolIsly
oriented according to the orienta,
tion of the original grain of olivine.
Manganiferous solutions were
70
0.0 mm
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
050, 05 I
CLINOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 1.4 m
Intermineral fracture
and coatings
of illuviated clays
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
- 0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
PART
2:
PATIERNS Of WEATHERING
71
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
052, 053
CLlNOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: lA m
Intermineral fractures
Formation of Iithorelics
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
-0.6
0.4
0.2
-O.Omm
ill' I
1I I intennineral frac
tures are closely spaced and
interconnected, rock fragments are
isolated li'om one another. Where
such fragments arc mixed into the
upper soil horizons, they are called
72
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
054, 055
CLlNOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
C6te d'lvoire
Depth: I m
Interconnected
intermineral fissures
Objective: X 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
PART
2:
PATIERNS OF WEATHERING
73
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
056
CUNOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 2 m
Intermineral porositY
Hypocoatings
Objective: x 6.3
PPL
O.3
l
I11
. ,I I
rock contains
clinopyroxenc grains \vith an
etluigranular texture, grains of
biotitc altered to vermiculite (B J ,
85, 5) during an earlier hydrothermal stage, irrebrular graLns of
magnetite, and small interstitial
grai.ns of apatite. ,'\11 the c1inopyroxene crystals have undergone a
partial peripheral weathering to
sal)onitic clay. The lTansfonnat.ion
of the biotite into vermiculite, ",ith
an appreciable Lncrease in volume,
has promoted the opening of many
intermLneral fbsw'es and fractures.
These, in turn, have promoted the
subsegucDl peripheral weathering
of the pyroxene crystals. The
74
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
OS7
BASALTIC ROCK
Morocco
Sampled by A. Dekayir
Depth: 0.4 m
Circum-mineral pore.
artificial coloration
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
1.0
0,0 mm
OS8
GRANITIC ROCK
photomicrograph,an
intermineral pore completel)' surrounds a pyroxene phenocryst and
separates it from the weathered
basaltic matrix. Where such an
intermineral fissure or pore entirely
sUlTounds a grain of a particular
mineral, it is convenient to designate it as a c.ircum-mineral fissure
or pore. This pore has been partially
infilled with allodlthonous ironlich material derived !i"om the surrounding weather.::d matl-Lx, The
open part of tile pore has been arti-
PART
2:
'I
PATTERNS Of WEATHERING
ficially Willed with coloreel S)'11tbetic material for better "isualization of its volume, and also
the
network of connecting of fissures
and macropores along wh.ich the
infilling malel"ial ha~ been transpOl1:ed, Sudl circum-mineral pores
are commonly obscn'ecl where
coarse-grained and hard bodies are
embedded in a weathered matrix or
soil material that can undergo
important changes in voLume under
tJle alternating innuences of humidity and dryness.
or
75
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
059, 060
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Iron crust sampled
at soil surface
Intramineral pores and
allochthonous infillings
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
=---
76
0.0 mm
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
061,062
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I
prismatic cr~'stals of
clinopyroxene were completely encloseo within a large pOikiloblastic crystal of phlogopite.
During a flTSt step of hypogene
alteration, tJle phJogopite was
altered to a meso-alteromorph of
venniculite. with considerable
expansion perpendicular to the
sheets of this layer silicate. This
increase of volwne is responsible
for the fracturing of the embedded
crystals of pyroxene; numerous
open transverse intramineral cracks
PART
2:
PAITERNS OF WEATHERING
77
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
063
CUNOPYROXENITE
Koua Bocca.
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 3 m
PPL
0.6
0.4
- 0.2
0.0 mm
I crystal of orthopyroxe.nc
(hypersthene), whose pleochroism in shades of pink is rather d1aracteristic, has been peripherally
weathered to nontronite. The
thickness (volume) of the nontTonite-bearing rim is sufficient to promote important \'ariations in
\'olume uncler the influence of alter-
78
TRANSMINERAL FRACTURES
064,065
PVROXENITE
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 2.4 m
Complex assemblage
of trans-, inter- and
intramineral fissures
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
0.4
0,2
0.0 mm
T\
I
crystals of
orthopyroxene, surrounded by
clinopyroxene (A 1, C-D-ES) and
poikilitic hornblende, are crossed
by nunlcrous flssures. along wruch
the orthopyroxene was partially
altered hydrothermally to talc,
associated with thin bands of secondary magnetite. The network of
fissmes is irregularly disoibu ted.
The IIssures are interconnected,
and are of three main types. Both
PART
2:
PATIERNS OF WEATHERING
79
PAn'ERNS Of AtrERA
meso-alteramorphs.
kata-alteromorphs.
to
Pellet/'alioll in a mineral;
th pOlhwoy ~f l\'corherinl1
The alteration patterm described below characterize not only isoaltcromorphs, but also mesoalterolllorphs. The case of kata-alleromorphs is more
complex, and can only be addressed by resorting to
specific descriptions for each case.
80
PART
2:
PATTERNS Of WEATHERING
81
82
FIGURE
5. PEUJUIUI\
P_\TTEJC'J~ or WE.HHRJNG.
A.
O'
I:
1:
l:
4:
NOle: Concemrk linc.:ltjons comn1C>nJy ar~ dsible witbin the lim or secondan' products; d,CV arc' tbe traces of lilt'- luce""ive. st:'ges of
weathering. Microlaminar.,d alternations or hcmatite - goethile are ohsen'ed in some instances; in this case. a c\\'o'phase bolupseudonlorph results. Th(' weJthering or such cuhedra! cryslals leads to the r'Jrnlation or true pseudl'nlorphs.
B.
0:
I:
1:
thick pelljcular rim or well-olielllcd smecrite and large dentieul3te residual core;
3:
4:
compiete weathering to wcll-oriented smect.ite \\'ithour visihle internal pores: HOLO-(IS0)'-\L TEROMORPH.
Note: Where the plane of the thin sectio" is (nearlv) paroJleI tn the Z axis of the pvro"ene, the opticat orientation or che smectire is W1jform and continuous throughout the "Ic('romor"h, amJ the orkntatian of Ih" denticulation 01' ULe p.ITo'enc residue; is parallel to
thac of the general la~'eJing of the smectitt': particles.
C.
0:
I:
2:
3:
nearly completc \\'e"thering to oriented smcetite \\ith miml\f: residues rimmeJ DV thick residu"l voids;
+:
orienled smectile ;mc! irregular pores de\'dop('d rrom rh, last r",iuues: (ORTHO)-ALVEOPORO-!\ LTEROMORPH.
i':ote: In an ('rt!toal,,oporo-alcc:rmorph, as ,ho\\-11 here, the shape oftlw residual pores is denticulatC' and similar to the shape afth" residual cor"S chat I.lal'e disappeared; in a para.alveoporo-Jltcromorph, thcir shape is l'Ounder and smoother becau,,' the pore$, rimmed
by laIc iron OX)'hyJroxidcs, develop by further degra,I.1lion of rhe previously lormed smcclire'group mineral.
PART
2:
PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
83
~
FIGURE
6.
A.
0:
I:
2:
3:
a,hanced weath"l"ing or the mica. Furthcr increa'l' in \'()Iume, amI Fracturing of lh" apatite indusion i
nearly cumfllete wcathering. widl formalinn ofpa"allel phyllopores and displacement of the fractured indllsion;
Note: Wh(.re th~ pdsmatic indusion i, not exactly perpcndicubr to till' layering of the mica. Ule transverse Fractures lhat segmcnt th!'
u,dusion. owing to the \olume increase of the host mi.neral, also alloll' a lateral displac('rnent of its fi"grncnts. 11,e t'racnLru'g and
di"loc.ltion of the included miner.lls strongly incr~aSl~ thdr weatherabilit>"
B.
0:
I:
indpil'nl weathering to bolin.ite starting on and extending mainly from opposite ,ide,;
2:
3:
thick I'avers of bolirntc shOWing expansion of r.heir lateral edges, opening of POr('S, and appearance of minute opaque inclusions;
~:
Note: The iron content of the primary biotiTC is expre,s"d by minute 'Ty'tals of goethite distributed para lid to th, bolin.ite layers and
concentrated within the central pall of the alteromorph, The lenticui.lr pores arc not True re_siduJ.l porb. hut rather pore_~ opened
undcr the inllue.uce of mechilflical foru,s developed as a r~sult of tI", e>..-pilnsion of the we3Ulcred mineral.
C.
0:
I:
1:
3:
'-\~Jl1Jlant' of Ule primar~' minnal and secondary products arc highly fractured and .:ontorted, with the ope.njng of many irregular pores;
4:
Note:
'n,\:
by
10
\'ermieulite or kaolinitc is accompanied hy " regular inlTease ill volume, which induce,
th.~ format.ion of ml:So-alteromorphs; swelling smectitir clay, gener.1Ur induee the formation of kat:aalteronl0rphs. 11lC iron con
84
AnA'
PART
2:
PAHERNS OF WEATHERING
In
85
-H"~ OF \\-UHIERINt;,
A,
0:
I:
incipient JIt~rJtion to d'doril~ J.long the ckaVJge; thin layers of chl0rite. d~\'eJop th,rough tlw LT:'s!:aJ;
1:
chlorit" 1< distrihutc'cl in a regular pJ.rallel bmdcd pattern Jltemating \\;th orgJnized residue. of hiotir~;
):
4:
lo chlorite: ISOALTEROMORPH,
Ne.te: The IIrst ""ne< 01' drawings illustntcs the case uf alttTaLioo of a primal)' micac~ou$ min"",lto a chlorite, ,,-ithoul increa.,e of \'olume;
as J result, shape_ of' the original grains w~rc l11aintJ..inco, Thi.., t)'Pl: or alteration, without Yolurne lnC1'"a$~, is I"ss c'oml11onl\,
ubservcd tlrall th", next onc,
B.
0:
subhc-dral (:Tptal
I:
incipient alteration
2:
layers or chlonte and r"'sidualbiotite arc equally distributed, but the increase in \'olume is perceptibJc.;
3,
organized thin layers of n'~idual hintite ami thick layers uf chJoriV: alternat,,;
4'
complete altcrMion ')1' hiotit,~ to chlorite \rith regular increase of \'Olumc: MESO-ALTEROMORPH,
"I' biotite;
lO
chlorit'" along dea\'age pbnes; thin IJ."CTS of d,lolite de\'dop through the crystal;
"lOll': Thi, second seri", or drawings illustrates the ,'ase olalteration of a primarv micaceous mineral with appreciable but regular incre.lSe
of volume- in a direction perpendicular to th" ICll','ring of the rill",,; t1Jc ext"rn,11 I'D im of the primary mineral 19 easily rc-cogniz.cd.
but the Jimcmiun,' ha\'c dlanged in onl' direction,
C.
0:
regulJrI)' d<'aved cI:'st.1 of pyroxene \Vhos~ Z a_'(j~ is I,aralld 10 the plaM of the thin section;
I;
incipi.:nt \\'c<1thcl"lng to
gn~lhil('
along p:trt
thin pellicular (pelil,heral) ilnd f'<1rJllel linear "'ea the ring; large denticula'''' residual core, of primary' PFoxcne;
~:
thick p~lIicular anu paralld ha.nded patterns 'lIld organized minute denriculatt' re.,iducs or primilry pyroxene;
+:
Nute: Tbe thickne>s of the "'pta ancl the Si".- of'the rc,sidual ""ids "rc c10sdy rclatc'o to tbe origin-al iron content of the primar} lTIinemJ.
Oncc' the minute r~sidu", ,rc "oITlpletdy i<()iJt~d within a large cir,um-uodular residtLll void, they can Jose their comm"n orienta,
tion ,nd their "imult,n,'ol!.> cxtinction in XPL.
86
PART
2:
PATIERNS OF WEATHERING
ering of a grain of amphibole (Fig. BC) or pyroxene (two sets of oblique or suborthogonal cleavages). which is distinctly seen in crystals whose Z
axis is perpendicular or oblique to the plane of
the thin section: this pattern gives rise to regular
septo-alteromorphs.
It seems evident that not all th" cleavages of a mineral always appear distinctly in the thin section. Thus
they can be incomplete, discontinuous or interruptecl.
This factor determines the formation of a morc-or-lcss
complete network or hnes, bands and septa whose segments are mostly arranged according to idealizecl linear or crossed patterns. Other particular symmetrical
linear or crossed patt"ms result fmm the weathering
of t\-vinned mU1C:Tals.
An example of the incomplete regular crosslinear pattern is given by the weathering of a crystal of orrhoclase that exhibits partly developed
cleavages (Fig. 9A). An example of a symmetrical
linear pattern is seen in the weathering of a
twinned mineral (pyroxene or feldspar, for example) whose cleaved parts are symmetrically
arranged on both sides of the twin plane (Fig. 9B).
87
A~ ~./
I
'"
;....
,::i c,.....
; ..::".
"'",
'"'
;
",\';'"
".
",
.........
"-'-
.... ,
FIGURF.
8.
A.
0:
I.
linear weath'ring of the "Ih'ine to nontronitc al,mg p,irt of ils fracture, ann
2:
irregular banded pattern with random rcsidu<:s; iron <)xyhydroxides app,'.ar along the fractures;
3:
smalll."arsd)' ,knticulate residue, ",itl,in tlw nono-onite, part of which L< oriented, mainly along the fracnlres;
4:
complete
w~ath~rilig of
b0undari,~s;
Note: U' tbe orit.~nal cr)'stal is largely li'actured, Ihe cia)' particles commonly arc strongly orienr~d along its outer edges and along both
sides of th~ fracmres, "her'cas the inn,'r "olum.,s arT "lied with randomly orientcd and homog~nco", secondary clays, No dinercnces in composition arc rccol'<lcrl betwcl.n the orient(d ancl the random particles,
B.
0:
I:
incipi<'nt linear weathering alung p,)rt of the edge and a.long fractures in the cr),stal;
2:
irregular cro>,-h.mded pattern ,)f gOf'lhite, enclosing random residue> ,:urrounded by residual vuids;
3:
,-andoml\" distributed minute residucs .uld man\' residual "oids within an ilTegular nl'twork of goethite septa;
4:
complete weathering
10
Nore: The richer i.n iron is thr garnet, uie thicker die sepia of gOdhit" anu Ule smaller ore the residual \'"i,k In the case of euheural cryst.ab, the comp!<.:telv w"aUlered grain, orgarncr gi\"e rise to irregular scpto-pseudomorphs. Manganese oxide ucposit, or minute ("I"."s,
till, otgihbsite eommonl) arc observed in the alterumurpbs after Mn-rich or AI-rich garnet, re'pcctin~.J)'.
C.
0:
1:
incipient linear weathering along part of the cTosscd cleavage" lea\'ing nalTOW rc.~iullal "oi,";
2:
regular cross-hancled pan"m or ;'oethite (boxwork), organizeJ rcsidues and residual void,:;
3:
organized minute residu<,s of primaT)' mineral isolated ,.-;thin a regular box work ol"gocrllite;
4:
Note: During the first slages of weatheri.ng, all th,' nenticu\ate n:sidup-, mai.ntai.n their uriginal orient'ation anti their simultaneous extinction, Once complt:rel)' isobled .1nd free to mO"e within their cells. the)' losc Uleir original orientation, and Ulcir extinction, in XPL,
nu longer is simulrane')us t1U'oughOllt the Jltcrornorph.
88
FIGURE
9. LINblR
PA1TERNS OF WUTHERING.
A.
0:
c1"''''"d anhedral crystal of orthoclas,'; fel\" deal'ages .pp... ar in the unweatl1l'red min ... ral;
I:
2:
regular cross-b.lnded panern in the secondary material anu org.lIli2.eu cal'ernOllS rt"idues of prinun feluspar;
lO
an isotTtlpic secondar,' material along a part or the rim anu along th ... clc,l\'ages:
3:
nearlv complete weathering to Lsou-opi<: materi.l, and kw org.niz,'d minutl' residue.> or prim"" reIJsp.r:
Note: The isotropic material i, an intermediate phase th,n commonl), t!c-I'c!rJp' between the f",ldsp.,r r"sidues and the bolinitc minerals:
thcse appear as end-products of the weathering under restrict"d t'r IH1rnnl conditions of \\,'athe,ing. Traces or t}le orig'inal clea"ages ar<~ partly enhanced hy thin deposits or iron oxyhydrmcide orallllchl.honous origin.
B.
0:
I:
incipient linear weathering to cry"tals of gibbsit" anrl organiz"d Ca,",~rnOllS rl'sidurs of primar~' fddspar;
plan,,;
2:
regular s)~nIl1etrical banded pattern of crystalline gibb"itr and organized ea""r1lllUS re,idu(:s
3:
advanced weathering: s)'lllmetTicJlJy bandd pattern or gihbs.ite and minute residue' surrounded h)' largc residual voids;
4:
<:emr.1 septum and symmetrical septa endosing brg" rt'sidual loids: !iCANTIIOSEPTOALTF.110MORPH.
Note: Under conditions or ",mcic'nt leaching, reldsl)ar'group minerals eommonl\' weather rlirr.:li) to gibbsite "'ilhout passing through an
intermediate ph-as~ of i.;otl'Opic material. The leaching of a.lkalis and silica G complete; the I'olum" or residual void" may he largl-r
than that of the scconclarv minerab.
C.
0:
I:
incipient w.:-athering to isotropic material :l('L'Ording to a pellicular and irregular digit.lte pattern:
2:
irregular core> within isotropic material (lM): smalJ dot" recently' lormt,d IM. large1' dOL" e.r1~,-rormcd IM:
3:
the lirstlormed part of the IM is r.:-placed h)' gihbsit" er)'stals a(nll-cling to :1I1 irregulJr digi ...l tc h.lJl,kJ texture;
4:
Note: The chemical composition of the isotropic makri.l, "hieh i' intermediate between thl: t'cldspJr and l>ibt"il<', is gradually nwdill"d
with aging: the tarlv-rormed paJ-LS orlM arc i:onse'luently the flr't ones \.0 be ""plaL'ed bv gi"bsitc. F<~I('jspar rcsidu:s, IM;'d gibb'it!:
<:In temporarily coexist.
PART
2:
PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
89
FIGURE 10.
A.
0:
irreguJ,u']y sp~ckl.:d pattern of isotropic secondary producLs ,Jong part of th.: intrnminera! Fractures;
2:
3:
advanced stage of weathering, with Further development or tbe secondary maleri,,1 wd disper'ed minute rcsidues;
4:
complete weath~ling tt> iso!n'pic matnial h/Ofore kaolinit" has develuped: HOLO(lSO)-ALTEROMORPH.
GIVeffiOUS
Note: As early as stage 2, the isolated specks and patdl'" of the secondary matcrial begin to coalt'Scc. and give way to a c'ontinuous
secondary ph"s' in which coarse or minute: cn"croous re~idtll" an~ isolated. Traces of the- original frncrures may be partly enhanced
bv allochthollous ,lq,o,it, of iron oxyhydroxides,
B.
Regul~r
D:
onhoclase crystal with fe'" regular opened deavagc_<, which are pathways ror the development of slUalJ specks of sccondnry mat"rial;
speckled pattern
I:
the earl\'-formed specks coalesce along the cleavages and form regularl\' crossi'ng elongate patches;
2:
3:
neuly complete weathering: disperse-d minute residues rmdomJy rltstribut.ecl in;) homogeneous scc:ond'l.ry phase;
4-:
th,' resirlues disappear, and kaolinile [oml., from the seconda,:' phase: GRADUAL TWO-PHASE ALTEROMORPB.
continuous phase or isotropic malerial in which organized cavemOU.5 r"sidues .lre distributed;
Note: Thb cas", very similar to the pre'-;ous one. is distinguished from it by the internal distrihution of the nrst- formed speck.5 and tbe
later patcbes of secondary producr..5. The development of the kaolinite in this example can also occur in the previous onc. sinc' it is
e.\'idelltly not. related to the regularity or irreguJarit)' 01' the rr.ctures or de;}vagcs.
C.
0:
wncd crystal of plagioclase, wbose zonati(ln is expressed by lh~ lin~ar and concemric development of incll."iom;
I:
specks and palchr-s of seconda,:' matLeIial are devdopl'd mainly ill th~ cenlJ'nl (more caldc) part of the fddspar:
2:
patches o[ seconda.r:' material are enlarged and coalesce, with repbccment of most of the central zone;
3:
the digitate central patch of secondary products is surrounded by un irregular residual rim of the primary mineral;
+:
crystals of Kaolinite develop in the cl'ntral part (the llrst-fOlmed) of Ihe intermediate isotropic muterial.
:'-Jote: Where olteromorph' still contain both intermediate isotropic material and kaolin.ite. it is more suitable to classi!)' them as gr;"Il.lal
t'Wo-phase "lteromorphs. Where the isotropic material has disappe.ared, it is mon. objectiv!: to classify them as bolo-(iso)-aJtemmorphs (or botryo-alteromorphs if o')'srals are isolated. with inconIlected voilL- het",,,en them).
90
ATLAS OF MICROMORPHOLOGY
or-
Comp/e" p tEems
Most patterns described above may combine with
one another to give complex patterns of alteration.
They can be described by combining a number of morc
simple patterns. The most common situations are
those in which several distinct patterns are juxtaposed
side by side or superposed one upon the other. They
develop from the combination of sets of irregular fractures and regular cleavages or tv\-in planes and from the
combination of intemaJ zonations and sets of fractures
or cleavages.
A classical example is provided by the
weathering of coarse-sized crystals of pyroxene,
which are fragmented into several parts by transmineral or transverse fractures. During the first
stage of weathering, the distribution of the secondary mineral (such as, for example. the smectite-group mineral that develops under conditions
of restricted drainage) is related to the network
of fractures. The smectite-group phase is distributed in an irregular banded panern. Thereafter,
during a more advanced stage of weathering, each
isolated but unfracrured fragment of the primary
mineral is weathered in a regular parallel or crosslinear panern, which is related to the number and
directions of the original cleavages.
The crystallographic orientation of minute secondary particles is also related to speciJic crystallographic directions in the original mineral. All these
crystaJbtes arc oriented parallel to the Z axis of the
pyroxene crystal, and, thus, independently of the fractures and of both sets of cleavages if these are simultaneously arid distinctly obsencd in the alteromorph. If
only one set of clea\'ages is apparent (as in the case of
lTystals whose Z axis is parallel to the plane of the thin
section), the secondary particles are oriented parallel
to the cleavage. Their straight extinction is then simultaneously observed in the whole alteromorph; it will
PART
2:
PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
91
PATTERNS OF ALTERATION
066,067
BASALTIC ROCK
Morocco
Sampled by A. Dekayir
Depth: 2 m
Regular peripheral
pattern of alteration
around a euhedral
phenocryst of olivine
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I I
'I
I
of olivinc
has been partially altered to
"iddingsitc" during cooling of the
basalt. The periphc,-al alteration
progresses centTipctally from tJ1C
l'dgc of the grain. Hac.J the alteration
process continued to complerion.
the euhedral crystal would have
1.
92
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
068,069
CLlNOPYROXENITE
r'l::
0.0
mm
grains of
PART
2:
PATIERNS Of WEATHERING
93
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
070, 07.
CARBONATITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I1 1,1 I
I carbonatite mck is
essentially composed of carbonat~~ mineraJs, whicl\ exhibit a
gra.nular texture, with variahle
quantities of accessory minerals
such as apatite, opaque minerals
(magnetite, perovskitc), micas,
c1inopyToxene. olivine, monticellite and clinohumite. The dominant
carbonate mineral is generally calcite, but it may contain variahle
amounts of magnesium and iron.
The photomicrograph shows the
fIrst step in the weathering of such a
rock: it starts along the intennineral
94
suture planes, giving \vay to a regular peripheral pattern of weathering. The primary calcite is
progreSSively dissolved. Complete
dissolution will be responsible for
the formation of koilo-alteromorphs (see later), whose original
borders are in some cases emphasized by residual deposits of oxyhydroxides derived from the insoluhle
iron content of the precursor. Note
that as soon as they begjn to
weather, the primary minerals
quickly adopt a denticulate shape,
which progressively will increase
ATI.AS
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
072, 073
CARBONAT1TE
0.3
0.2
=-
0.1
0.0 mm
ill
PART
2:
Illll
Ill'
.111
\yere
PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
95
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
074
AMPHIBOLE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
=- 0.0 mm
075
GABBRO
~ ::
lo.1
t
'11
\I
is partly oxidized
96
OOmm
PATTERNS OF ALTERATION
076,077
GARNET-BEARING
GRANITIC GNEISS
of weathering
around almandine
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I
~I
I"
I
of
almandine (garnet group) is
embedded in a granitic gneiss
whose main mineral constituents
are quartz. alkali feldspar and plagioclase, with biotile and accessory
muscovite as the micaceous minerals. All these minerals are regularly
oriented and distributed, giving the
rock a tvpical layered texture. Note
that the foliation tends to WTap
around the gl-ain of garE1l't. The
97
PATTERNS OF ALTERATION
078,079
BASALTIC ROCK
Island of Samoa
Sampled by V. Targulian
Depth: 2.8 m
Irregular peripheral
pattern of alteration
around olivine
Objective: x 16
PPL and XPL
of oli"ille is panialJy
altered
to '\:hlarophaeitc"
under deuterje \.'onditions. The secondary phase is the isotropic bright
yelluw material that surrounds the
oli"illc core. The secondary product
is mainly peripherally distributed
arOllnd a "Cl)' irreglllar core, whose
mJrgins are coarsely d"JlticlIlatc.
Since the matcri.:t1 is isotropic, it is
not possible to test for concorllancc
98
ur
or
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
080,081
PLAGIOCLASEBEARING
CLINOPYROXENITE
0.3
~ 0.2
=--
0I
~- 0.0
mm
IJ" 11
I,
,. and discontinuous rim 0 an isotropic sC::'condar)' product is developed around
this cuhedral crystal of plagioclase.
The secondary product is easily distinbTUishcd in PPL by iL~ ycUowish
color, which is due to impregnation
vvith iron-rich compounds. similar
to those thilt appear \\-ithin the
inter- and ino.lmineral fissures of
the surrounding rock. The isotropic
character of the secondary product
is dearly' S...,...,11 in XPL. llle isotropic
rim contrash stJ'ongh' with the
PART
2:
PATTEl\NS Of WEATHERING
or
or
99
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
082,08)
KERSANTITE
Brittany, France
Sampled in a quarry
by E. Bernabe
Particular case of a
peripheral pattern
of alteration
around biotite
Objective: x I 0
PPL and XPL
0.1
0.1
0.0 mm
T' '
GIn be included as an
exampk of' a peripheral pattern
01' weathering, although thl.: growth
(IF till' weathered .1rcas, as seen in
.1ppropriatel)' oriented thin scctiuns, seems to occur mainly along
the cdgc.s uf' tilL' mica. The weathering h'om penetrates t.he ~T)'$t.al as ,)
series 01' wedges along both lateral
edges
the mineral, whcrea~
or
lOO
yellow,
PATTERNS OF ALTERATION
084,085
K.eRSANTITE
Brittany, France
Sampled in a quarry
by E. Bernabe
Regular peripheral
pattern of alteration
around biotite
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
t
-
0.2
0.1
::
O.Omm
11'
I
' i I'
Ill,
I arc
taken from a rock sallllJle very
similar tu the previous one (082 and
083), but the partly weathered crys
tals of biotite are oriented in the
plane of the thin section, so t.hat the
regular pattern of' \\'cathC'ring can
easily be recognized as a true
peripheral and cent.ripetal onc.
Most crvstals
of biotite arc six-sided
.euhedral crystals, and their partial
101
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
086,087
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
Pedra Balao,
Po~os de Caldas.
MG. Brazil
Sampled at outcrop
Particular case of
a peripheral pattern
of alteration around
nepheline
Objective: x 4
XPL and XPL + A/4
-0.6
- 04
0,2
- 0.0 mm
I I
of' a peripheral
pattern of alteration i~ shown
by the partial replacement of' J cryslal or nepheline by natrolite, a zculite-group minc:ral. This alteration is
due to a hydrothcj'mal process
according to the idea'li/ed reaClion:
2NaAISiO, + Si0 2 + 21-1 20
NalAIJSi,Olo2H?O. The
nuio
IJhdsC preferentially penetrdtcd the
primary mineral along a direction
parallel to a main axis; in the ca.se
~hown here, the Z axes
both primary and secondary minc-rals arc
or
102
or
PATTERNS OF ALTERATION
088,089
PLAGIOCLASE-RICH
AMPHIBOLlTE
0.6
- 0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I
"
J ' illustrate the incipient wcath('I'ing
of plagioclasc (labraJorite), which
exJlibits its characteristic twin
lamellae. The wCJthering starts
main.I~' in the peripheral part of the
(l',Ystal, but the centripetal ad\'ance
of the weathering li'onl is irregular
and JelC'rmines the formation of'
irregular patches and internal digitations of isotropic material. Thi~
PART
2:
PATTIRNS OF WEATHEIIING
~econdary product. slightly beigecolorerl in PPl, show~ a sharlJ ('onn'a~l with the hl)~l plagiocla.~c in
XPL. An carliC'r incipient alteration
or the mck, lU1dcr a low-g,-ade
hydrothermal process, j~ n:sponsiblc If)r the rormation of microcrystals of epidote and scricire
irregularly distributed lhrough the
feldspar. The surrounding hornblende has not undergone any Illod-
103
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
090,09.
GABBRO
Zaala. Touba,
western Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: lA m
Irregular peripheral
and linear patterns
in plagioclase
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
0.4
02
T . '.
I1 I'" of an elongate
sunhcdral grain of plagiocla.~e
starts according to two irregular
rattcrns, the first ont' along the
reriphery 01' the mineral, and the
second One along many tTansvcrse
cTacks. The combination of both
irregular peripheral and linear pattcrns results in the isolation of manv
irregularly shaped rcsidues. The secondary prorluct is an optically
isotropic material. Commonly
colorless, it appears, in PPL. as pall'
yellowish owing to slight staining by
)
104
0.0 mm
or
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
092,093
NEPHElINE SYENITE
Pedra Balao.
Po~os de Caldas,
MG, Brazil
Depth: 0.4 m
Irregular linear
pattern of weathering
in orthoclase
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
03
=-
0.2
0.1
~
-
O.Omm
PAin"
2:
PATIffiNS OF WEATHERING
10S
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
l\
094,095
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
Poc;os de Caldas,
MG. Brazil
Depth: 1.8 m
Irregular peripheral
and patchy weathering
of nepheline
Objective: X 4
PPL and XPL
0,6
0,4
0,2
0,0 mm
01 nephelinc
exhibit~ incipient weathering to
106
or
PAITERNS OF ALTERATION
096,097
ACTINOLITE-RICH
AMPHIBOLlTE
-0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I
I . . or the a..rnphibole
group are genera.lly much less
weathcrable than most rock-forming minerals. Where they are the
main component of the rock, as in
this example, they allow the ,'ock
the opportw1it;' to remain practically unweathercd until the upper
levels or the proHlc- or to form outcrops of practically un weathered
ampbibolite in the upper part of the
landscape. In these cases, incipient
weathering is gener.1l1y expressed
by regular patterns of thin lincar
PART
2:
PArr-tANS OF WEATHERING
107
PATIERNS OF ALTERAnON
098,099
NEPHElINE SYENITE
Pedra Balao,
Po~os de Caldas.
MG. Brazil
Depth: 1.2 m
Regular linear
(transverse) pattern
of weathering in aegirine
ObjeCtive: x 10
PPL and XPL
:- 02
0.1
of tranS"\'erse
Ilssures dew>loped within long
needle-shaped crystals of acgirine
(~odic pyroxcne), Most transverse
fissures arc oriented parallel to each
other, a.nd more or less pcrpcnrlicular to the Z axis or the primary min,
crak Most transverse fissures are
colort~cl by thin deposits 01' iron oxyhydruxides, These beL'ome thicker
as the weathering of the primary
mincralllroceeds; the linear pattern
J08
i~
O.Omm
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
100
ACTINOLITE-RICH
AMPHIBOllTE
Objective: x 10
PPL
0.2
0.1
=-
0.0 mm
101
ACTINOLITE-RICH
AMPHIBOllTE
Objective: x 10
PPL
B.
~ I I I )
11
show details
of th~~ distribution of secondar;.
products along the periphery 01" the
crystal and along its trans\"('rse
cracks. The conditions of Ferrallitic
weathering prevailing in this superllcial en\'ironment induce the lcaching of most chemical componcnts of
the actinl,litc, and rhe fLxation or its
residual iron and subsidiaryI aluminum_ This process of leaching
leads to the formation of large residual voids. During incipient weathering, the residual dl;posit of iron oxyhydroxide is close to the mineral
PART
2:
PATTERN, OF WEATHERING
109
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
102,103
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
- 0.6
- 04
02
0.0 mm
.I
I I1 I " I j"
1, r - show
a complex pattern of alteration
of a crystal of oli~ine, which at first
is
replacecl
by
red-colored
n
"iddingsite along its periphery 'lOd
along the Ol-iginal protoclastic fractures. Most protoclastic fractures
originally contained thin lamellar
c1eposits 01' magnetite (black),
which have remained undisturbed
dW'ing the transformation of the
host miner;!!. They are still clearly
recognizable in the banded and
peripheral areas of secondary
no
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
104,IOS
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
~ 02
~ 0.1
O.Omm
I '1 I
of a complex
of alteration combines
an irregular peripheral and a welJcleveloped banded pattern. Compared to the previous illustlations,
the banded textures are \'I'idened,
which aHows the internal organization of the associated "iddingsite"
and rc-siducs of early magnetite to
be more clearly recognized. As in
the pre\rious ilJustrations, the thin
section has been rotated in such a
way (4S~) that both olivinl? and
"idclingsite" ex.hibit their nighest
"
l'
l"'\ pattern
PART
2:
PATTtRNS OF WEATI-iF.RING
111
PATTERNS OF ALTERATION
Cl
106, 107
OllVINE-BEARING
CUNOPYROXENITE
0.2
0.0 mm
"'"
show
an oUvine crystal that ha.< been
partially altered to a polyphase association of serpentine and magnetite
during a IJrst step of hypogcne
alteration. The large rcsidues of
olivine cores ha\'e been later subJCTted to a second process of alteration, to bro.vnish "idclingsitc". The
areas altered during the first step
are minor, ancl restTicted to straight
colorlcss bands that follo\\' part of
the network of protoc!astic fractu res and part of the periphery of
112
:1
t.
the olivine crystal. Deposits of secondary magnetitc, genetically associated with the formation of
serpentine, are locally developed
(A I, C4). During the second step of
alteration, parts of the' l)livine cores
are altered to "idwngsite" that either
surrounds the early-fOl'mcd sel1Jentine bands, or follows the hitherto
wlI110dificd protoclaslic fractures.
"lddingsite" also penetrates the
ol.ivine crystal accorrling to a
peripheral and an irregular linear
pattern. No resirlual pores are
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
108, 109
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLINOPYROXENITE
:- 0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
PART
2:
PATTERNS Of WEATHEIUNG
113
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
I I 0, I I I
CALC-ALKAlINE
GRANITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
- 0.0 mm
III
1.11111
of the secondary products IS closely
related to the internal zoning of the
primary mineral. In this subhedral
crystal of plagioclase, the core .lnd
some of the concentric zones of the
primary mineral are more caJciumrich than are the remaining parts.
The zoning of the chemical composition is expressed by the concentric
distribution of the secondary products: minute inclusions 01" mus-
114
covitc
paragonite, which arc
responsihle for the cloudy habit of
some of its parts, and inclusions of
epidote (high interference-colors in
XPL.). Tne secondary minerals are
restricted to U1e more calcium-rich
parts of the crystal, whereas the
more sodium -rich zoncs remain
clear and free of any inclusions.
Note that the distribution of the
inclusions of epidote closely follows
that 01" the micaceous secondary
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
I I 2, I I 3
DIABASE DYKE IN
BASALTIC FLOW
Ribeirao Preto.
SP, Brazil
Depth: 3.2 m
Intramineral weathering
along twin boundaries
in plagioclase
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
0.1
f
~
O.Omm
T"
\',1
11'
.1. or a twinned
lath-shaped C1")'staJ of plagio.
clase has begun along intramineral
cracks. which bave mainly devel
oped parallel to the twin planes, The
smectite formed as a secondilr}
product after plagioclase has a
chemical composition ,'cry similar
to that or the weathering products
PART
2:
PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
or
115
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
1 14, 1 15
BASALTIC ROCK
Ocean floor,
Costa Rica Rift
Leg 70. Drill site S04b
Sampled by C. Laveme
Irregular patchy pattern
of alteration in quartz
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
I p,ltkrn of
alteration appeared eiuring the
parti:d replaccment of a subherlral
cryst.al of qua.rtz by secondary nUJlel'als of the- 7_eolite group under the
influence of a late hydrothermal
process. Under XPL, both minerals
lJ6
0.3
=--
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
1 16, 1 17
BASALTIC ROCK
Ocean Ooor,
Cosra Rica Rift
Leg 70. Drill site S04b
Sampled by C. Laverne
Irregular patchy
pattern of alteration
in plagioclase
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
~
-
0.3
02
0.1
O.Omm
I I I
can be
compared with the previou~
ones. The cuhedral crystal of plagiodase illustrated is partially replaced
by irregularly shaped <l11J oistribllLed palche~ of a zcolite-group
mineral. Note that the optical orientation at' nearly all p.ltche-s of the
PAKT
1:
PATTIRNS OfWEATHfRING
117
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
-~""'
I 18, I 19
NEPHELINE SYENITE
Por;os de Caldas.
MG. Brazil
Depth: 1.2 m
Complex polygenetic
pattern developed
in nepheline
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
:.- 0.1
=-
of nephdine
..,'as first partially replaced hy
randomly distributed "olume~ of
secondary natrolite l)~' hydrothermal
origin, c:oncCIllTatcd in its peripheral and central parts. During a later
step or weathering, natrolitc was
replaced by microcrystalline gibbsite, whereas the residual part of the
nepheJine was completely replaced
by an isotropic secondary material.
In XPL, the microcrystalline gihbsite appears JS briJUilJlt white patches
that contrast sharply with the SIIT-
//8
O.Omm
PATTERNS OF ALTERATION
120
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
Po~os
de Caldas,
MG, Brazil
Depth: 1.8 m
Irregular patchy
pattern of allochthonous
natrolite in orthoclase
Objective: X 4
XPL
0.6
0.4
- 0.2
0.0 mm
121
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
Po~os
de Caldas,
MG, Brazil
Depth: 0.6 m
Irregular patchy
pattern of
allochthonous
gibbsice in orthoclase
Objective: x 6.3
XPL
03
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
T"
1,',.11 ,.
illuscontrast quite sharply in XPL. The
trate another case of possible
first is nearly at extinL1:ion; its dark
misinterpretation of the origin and grey calor C'onb'asts with the bl-ight
the affinities of the secondary prod\I'hite coJor or the natrulite. The
uct'. The upper illustntiull shows a , lower iJlustratiOll shows the completl:' weathering or the natTolite
large crystal of onhoclasc that has
heel] fractured and partiaUy reGppatches to microcrystallim; gibhsite,
talli7.ed, lea\ing irregular alTas
k-a\"ing the host orthoclase practiquickl)' infillcd by a natrolitc L1ystal
cally unwealhered. The substantial
(s\"llC'hronous with the natrolite
difference
in
weatherability
sho\\"ll in t.he pre\iuus photographs).
hetween the minerals allows the
The texllIre suggests a case of parnatrnlite to be weathered lonoI:>
tial alteration of the feldspar to
befun,: the orthoclasc crystal. When
natrolite. Orthoclasc and natTolite
stud:;ing a thin section similar to
PART
2:
PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
or
119
PATTERNS OF ALTERATION
122,121
QUARTZ VEIN IN
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I '
of ferraJlitic weathering, a large grain
of quartz in a leucocratic vein is partiallY; weatJlered to an irreoular
b
patchy pattern. The dissolutioninduced voids are randomly <listrihuted within the grain, wiUlout any
apparent relationship to the crystallographic orientation of the mineral. As the voids are opened by
further dissolution, they are par-
120
PATIERNS OF ALTERATION
124, 125
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
Po<;os de Caldas,
MG. Brazil
Depth: 0.8 m
Irregular patchy
polygenetic alteration
of eudialyte
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
f
-
0.1
0.0 mm
Iltl
is a lujauite,
a nepheline-bearing syenite
whose main constituents arc
nepheline, orthoclase, aegirinc (a
sodic dinopyroxcne) and coarsesized crystals, up to 5 cm of diameter, of eudialyte, associated with
minor proportions of arC-veJsonite
(a soJic amphibole) and rare tiraIl.ium minerals. Eudialyte is an uncommon complex lTigonaJ silicJte
whose general f(lrmuJa b Na l6 Ca 6
(Fe)- ,Mn 1+, Y)jZJ-/Si 30<j)1(Si'.P 21)2
(OH.CI)~. In PPl, the mineral is
PART
2:
PATTERNS Of WEATHERING
121
C /-/.1
PT [R
FTHI:: PR1MARY
OI1-S
The IIrst stage of weathel-ing uf fddspar-group minerals leaves generally irregular and cavernous residues
without an)' particular geometrical shape. Nevertheless,
the weat.hering of orthocla..~e Coln in some cases liberate
triclinic: residue.s (para.11elepiped-shape'd residues in thin
section) whose shape is governed by the main c1eJ.Yages
01' the feldspar. Thesf' well-Illted rcsiducs within the
alteropla,smas can maintain their orientation and their
simldtancous extinction in crossed nicols 101' a long
period of time. The regular and geometrical shape of the
residues rarel~, corresponds to Ule euhedral shape of the
original J:,JTain of orthodasC'._
Th t' ouvine-grOllp minerals commonly arc b-agmenl;ed by irregular C-TJcb of protoclastic origin. The
shapes of the residu<?s arc rarely regular. Nevertheless,
under certain circumstance.~ of" weathering to chlorite
or saponite, the secondary mineral follows tht' pathways of' these protoclastic fractures, but leaves residual
fragments that are charaettTized by a sawtooth-shilped
outline. The angles of the teeth are open, and the linear
corners of the dcnticulation an: parallel to the' potential (00 I) faces of the [)Ii~-ine CT)'StaJ. Tllis coarse dcnticulation is reproduced parallel to itself whatever the
orientation of the fracture followed by the fluids
responsible tor hyrogene or supergene alteration. In
contrast, a.ltcration to talc, and weaUlering to nontronite or to iron oxyhydroxides. leave residues that exhibit
a fmclv denticulate outline rather similar to the dcnticulation observed in weaUlerecl pyroxcnes and amphiboles. Alteration of oli\-ine to serpentine generally
gives residues of nlivine with a curved and smooth autlint:', at least at the scale of the optical microscope.
Wbere the primar;; mineraJs do not exhibit Fractures or w('lI-expressed clcavagc. or a tendency to
autom0rphs, their residues arc irregularly shaped, wiUl
curved and cav,;rnous outline, \\ith rc-entrants due to
corrosion or cml)ayments, and intramineral patches.
Tb", residues can be closely fitted within the aJteroplasma without forming perinuclear voids, or they can
be loose and freely rotating in larger alveolar pores
delimited by septa of argilliplasma or crystalliphsma.
In this last case, all the residues coming from the
weathering of a minel-al grain lose their unique orientation and, freely rotating in their a.lveolar pores, they
lose their simultaneott5 extinction under (TOssed. nicols.
Two more examples follow:
TIle first step ofweathcTing of feldspars to gibbsite or
to bolinite. by \.. .'ay of an intermediate- opticaJly isotropic
aluminosilicate phase, leads tu nwneroll.~ cavernous
residues. which arc isolated From eilch other by se pta of
gibbsite, by bands of kaolinite, or by irregular area.., of
isutropic material. Inter-plasma-mineral pore-space is not
124
obst'rved, and all the \-,-elI-tltted resiclues maintain thecrystallographic orientation of th,' primary mineral.
The first step of weathering of olivine or garnctgroup minerals to iron OX)'hydroxides leads to a porous
and irregular structw-e. It consist~ of two component-s:
ferruginous septa t.llat arc distributed according to Ule
originill intramineral fractures, ilnd irregulal- ca\'ernous
residue'S. As the t.llickness of the f"elTuginous network
increases and as the volullle oJ the residues decreases,
perinuclear voids de\'cJop around each residue. The
thickening of the septa i~ achicv<.:d by intramineral
naIloscalc transfer or chemical elements from the core
through the perinuclear pore. The residues arc: then
loose in their cell, and their rotation promotes the IOS5
of their common crystaJlographic oJientatiorl.
In s-ulllll1ary. the residual fragments that are isolated within their alteroplasmas, with or without perinuclear pores, exhibit the follOWing charactcri~tic
shapes, at least during pal-t of their ("'olution:
or
125
PAITER
TIll' orientation a.nd cr~,stallinity of the secondary
mincrab Glll vary from point to point within the
aJteromorphs. Consequent I)., the distribution and the
morphology of the residual pores, wlllch arc associated
wid, residual primary and ncoformed secondary
phases, ilrc not homogeneous, even \\ithin monophase
altcromorphs. If the weathering proceeds in a wellJr.uned horizon, which promotes the leaching of must
chemical e1emcnts of the primary rruncral, the rcsiduill
parc.-span' may become dominant. In exneme C<lSCS,
onl)' J periphcrJI \'oid is develuped around the remnant, or a practicalJy empty box'work structure results.
Microporosity Jnd mc.soporosity arc distinguished
acconling to the size uf the pores conneLteJ to the secondary material. The tcrm macroporosiLy is restriLted to
the fissures, fractures and channels of higher ordcr,
which cross the <llterites O\-er longer distances.
The microstructures that are connected to the
developmcnt of micro- Jnt! mL'soporosities arc
described in more det.uj in J subsequent chJpter, in
which t.he micromorphology of completely developed
Jlterunlorphs i~ described. Ne\'erthclcss, some of the
main chJracters that allow one tu differentiate these
t\\'o t)1)CS of pore space arc listed here.
Me opor sic)'
Mesoporosil)' results from the development of
secondary minerals tllat do not occupy all the Jvailabk
space created by the weathering of the primJry mineral. It is comlnonly observed within the crystaJJipbsmas developed under conditions of ferrallitic
wCJthcring, in whil:h the vulume of exported elements
(Na, Ca, Mg, Si) is much grealer tJ1an the volumes of
the imported constituenb> (H 2 0, C02), combined
with those corresponoing to the resiJuJ] elements
(Fe, AI, Ti).
The shapes of the pores, tJ1cir nwnber and the regtheir distribution depend strongly on the
ularity
IJotential or actual microstructural properties of the
primary mineral that have determined the pathways of
penetrJtion Jnd the rate of the weJthcring processes.
the
Mesoporosity is eJsily distinguished Jt the scale
ol)tical microscope e\T11 ifthe pore space is maintaincd
emp\), Mesoporosity COffl"5pOnds to residual pores_
Conseguently, it is distTibuted within the altcromorphs
and not at their periphery_ V/here distorted, opened, and
connected with the other systems of IJorcs, mcsoporcs
can be inlJlIeo by lakr materials of allochthonous origin.
or
or
rJlicroporo, it
Microporosity gencl-ally i.,> an i.lltramiocrJ] porosit\" (a.s 1~1r as origin:!1 borJers of the primary grains arc
concerned), associated with the microcrystalline structures of the argilliplasmas. The distribution of this kind
of pore SpJCC is interparticulJr and generally uniform,
c"pecially where no inheritance of specific orientation
is observed in the secondarv products. This microporosity is mainly obsence! within t.h" argilliplasmas,
which occupy all the J\-aiIJhle slJace resulting from the
clisappearance of th\" primary mineral.
126
or
116, 117
CARBONATITE
02
0.1
0.0 mm
11'
,Ill
"canbc
compared "...ith those shown
pre,ioush (070 - 073), taken or
similar samples in the same tluarry.
These were chosen to illustrate the
case of a thin pellicular pattern of
weathering developed along intermineral fissures. Now, the dissolution of the carbonate mineral has
progressed to the extent that thick
pell icu lar wssolutiun-inclucul 'oids
surround denticulate cores. The
in>n content of the ank('rite,
Cal-e 1 +(CO')1-, .....1!in:s Will' tu irrecr1!)
PART
2:
PATIERNS OF WEATHERING
127
128,129
KERSANTITE
Brittany. France
Sampled in a quarry
by E. Bernabe
Irregular banded pattern
and organized residues
after biotite
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
128
130,131
BASALTIC ROCK
northern Kivu,
Democratic Republic
of Congo
Sampled at outcrop
Irregular banded pattern
and random residues
after olivine
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
show
the beginning 01' the replacement of a subhedral crvstal of
oli\"ine by a polyphase association of
chlorite and saponite along irregular transverse fra('lur~'s. The chlorite-gTlJUp mineral is greenish
bro"'l1 in PPL, ,md rebrularly distributed ailing and oriented parallel to
the Z axis of the crystal, whereas the
~. ('llowish oeige saponjtc inbll, the
areas between the tl"Lick regular
bands or chlorite and the remnants
PART
2:
I,
PATTIRN$ OF WEATHERING
129
132, 133
HYPERSTHENEBEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
-=--- 0.0 mm
cr\,st.:tI
(hypersthcne) shows incipient
weamering to nOnlTonite along sev
eral irregular transverse and longitudinal cracks parallel to the
cleavage. The Z axis of the crystal is
more or less oriented in the plane 01'
the thin section. Compared to the
prc,ious iIJusb-ations, note that the
denticulation is much liner than in
the coarse "saw-tooth" denticulation
de\eloped on the residues
ohine. This flnC' denticulation onlv
develops along the banded textures
~
or
130
or
or
134, 13 S
SERPENTINIZED
KOMATIITE
Munro Township,
Ontario, Canada
Petrographic collection.
Universite d'AixMarseille III
Banded serpentine
around random residues
of olivine
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I \
I I
of olivine
whose shape a.nd rdativc distribution ar0 characteristic of komatiitic web (uJtrabasic now,;), are
partially replaced hy .ul association
of serpentine and magnetite. The
serpentine is distributed a.s sinuous
banded units 01' regular thickness
running along small residue,; of
olivine, which show smooth and
cun'ed shapes. The serpentine,
colork_s,; in PPL, exhibits in XPL a
flrst-ordlT to>(lTe)', interference-color,
which contra.sts sharlJly with the
second- and third-order interfer-
PART
2:
PATTI~NS Of WEATHERING
131
136,137
SERPENTINIZED
PERIDOTITE
0.2
0.1
O.Omm
132
Il8
HORNBLENDEBEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
PPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
crystal 01'
hvrnblende is shown in its first
stage of weathering to iron oxyhydroxiLies. The netwvrk of intramineraJ li'actLlres is irregular and
independent of the orientation of
the deayage. Several fissures cross a
long, thin prism 01' apatite. These
are intramineral Fissures in the
hornblende, L,ut become transmineral (transverse) fissures in the
apatite. The weathering ol' the hornblende begins in the uPIJer part of
the altcritc. This explains why the
secondary l)l"oducts after hornblende are exclusil'eh' brownish
iron ox yhydroxides. The original
iron cuntent of the hornblende is
relatil'ely km', and as a result the
secondary l)roducts do not infill all
till" ITllume available. The thin dark
brown lineaments arc surrounded
on both sides by empty pores,
whose I'olume is related to the
amoLlnt of' matter rernol'(,d from the
PART
2:
PATTORNS OF WEATHeRING
133
<:
139,140
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
Pedra Balao,
Po<;os de Caldas,
MG, Brazil
Depth: 0.6 m
Regular banded
(transverse)
weathering pattern
in aegirine
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
:- 0.1
0.0 mm
I1
can be
compared with photomicrographs 098 and 099. The samples
used ror the two sets of photm
belong to the same weathering
sequence and to the same prohlc.
The distribution and orientation of
the banded I)atterns arc similar to
those shown earlier. The bands
result from tbe thickening of the
rihbons of secondary products
oWing to more advanced weathering
134
141, 141
HYPERSTHENEBEARING
CLINOPYROXENITE
[ "'
l::
-
0.0 mm
It
11
11'(
+J
,11
can be
PART
2:
PATIERNS OF WEATHERING
1]5
143
ClINOPYROXENITE
Objective: x 4
PPL
06
0.4
0.2
- 0.0 mm
144
ClINOPYROXENITE
Objective: x 6.3
PPL
0.3
02
0.1
~
~
I I
" . { J'
and lower photographs show the regular trans\'t~r:;e breakage of prismatic crj'stals
of clinop}Toxene under the inlluence of U1e mesomorph.ic alteration
of the intersert<l! phlogopite to vermiculile, The resulting expansio(l
has led to the regular breakage of
the prismatic crystals originally
included in the mica, It is ob\'ious
that this breabgt' is linked to the
particular orkntation of the vermiculite layers, perpendicular to the
prism axis of the pyroxene. Where
this orientation is difTercnt, a~ in the
136
0.00101
145, 146
PHLOGOPITE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
"2
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
-::- 03
=-
0.2
0.\
0.0 mm
I1
01' the ori~inal
been replaced by
meso-alt~~romorphs of vermiculite.
These havc given rise to many irregular intC'rmineral ancl transmineral
pores, along which weatllering of
!I
"
rock
has
PART
2:
PATTEfl.NS OF WEATHERING
137
147, 148,
149, 1SO
ClINOPYROXENITE
0.1
0.0 mm
138
151,152
CALC-ALKALlNE
GRANITE
0.2
01
O.Omm
.'
I'
'Ill has been partially replaced by chlorite. The
alternation of chlorite with residues
of biotite gives the alteromorph cl
regular parallel handed pattern. The
oricntations of both prim;1ry and
secondary minerals also are parallel.
which causes simultaneous extinction when the stage is rotated (not
shown). Compared with previous1~'
sho\'m photogr.1phs (128, 129), the
intcrlaycring of the secondary mineral within the primary mineral is
much more regu br. with straight
PART
2:
PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
/39
IS3,IS4
PYROXENITE
140
0.3
0.2
=--
0.1
0.0 mm
or
ISS,IS6
CALC-ALKALlNE
GRANITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
PART
2:
PATIERNS OF WEATHERING
14/
157
CALC-ALKALINE
GRANITE
0.2
=---
0.1
0.0 mm
158
CALC-ALKALlNE
GRANITE
XPL
142
159
CALC-ALKALlNE
GRANITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
160
CALC-ALKALlNE
GRANITE
I'
I
were taken a Few
deciml?tcrs higher than the pre\'ious sanlpk in the qme weather,
ing profile. The photomicrographs
show the progrcssi\'e disappearance
of the feldspilr resielues and the
incipient crystallization of gibbsite;
tbe thin microparticle, are randomly distributed wit.hin the
isotropic philse, at \Ihose expense
tJl('Y are growing. The first illustration shows several cavernous
J'esidues whose size is muchsmalkr
than in the prc\'ious example, but
\-\'hose shape is very similar, The
PART
2,
PATTERNS OF WEATHERING
143
f>.
161
PYROXENE-BEA.RJNG
CHARNOCKITIC ROCK
Summit (I 000 m) of
Tonkoui Mountain,
western Cote d"voire
Depth: 0.6 m
Development of
cavernous residues
after plagioclase
Objectives: x 10
XPL
0.2
0.1
O.Omm
162
PYROXENE-8EARING
CHARNOCKITIC ROCK
Summit (I 000 m) of
Tonkoui Mountain.
western Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.6 m
Development of
cavernous residues
after plagioclase
Objectives: x 16
XPL
r'
i
! 11.
to conditions
of strong leaching prevailing
at the top of Tonkoui Mountain,
which receives more than 1000 mm
of rain annual I)', plagiocJasc weathers directly to gibbsite without
passing through an intermediate
ison-opic phase. The upper illustration shows juxtaposed all the steps
of' weathering of a feldspa'- grain. In
the Ill'st step (at the left), the gibbsite crystals deyelop on hoth sides of
t.he fissures or crystal defects, producing typical septa of gihbsj te. Very
144
O.Omm
163
CALC-ALKALlNE
GRANITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
164
BAUXITIC PROFILE
DEVELOPED ON
GRANITE
Siagozohoin, Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 2.2 m
Quaru inclusions in a
gibbsite-bearing
alteromorph
after feldspar
Objective: x 10
XPL
III ,l"
'I.
I ,
PART
2:
PATTERNS OF WfArnERING
and dish-ibution, whereas the associated sod.ic plagioclase has completely wE'athcred to the isotTopic
phase.
The lower photograph shows
inclusions of quartz (unweatherL'd)
within a gibbsite-bearing alteromorph after feldspar. The intermineral fissures around tbe inclusions
have served as pathways along
whjeh the weathering of the
feldspar began.
145
165
CHARNOCKITIC ROCK
Summit (I 000 m) of
Tonkoui Mountain,
western Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.6 m
Complex pattern : regular
and irregular distribution
of secondary minerals
in plagioclase
Objective: x 10
XPl
0.2
0.0 mm
166
CHARNOCKITIC ROCK
Summit (I 000 m) of
Tonkoui Mountain,
western Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.4 m
Complex pattern: regular
and irregular distribution
of secondary minerals
in orthoclase
Objective: x 10
XPL
'I
I
I l
I . ~ sho\v J.
combination 01" an ilTegular IJattern or incipient weathering, which
is rclatecl to irregular tr,U1smineral
fractures, and a regular pattern of
disnibutiun of the secondary gibbsite, which 'is related eithc-:r to the
presence of polysynthctic twinning
in plagioclasc ( 165) or to tll(' poorly
dc\e1oped c1eavJ.ges of orthoclase
(166). In both cJ.ses, the median
111ane 01" the septa is emphasized by
146
167
CALC-ALKALlNE
GRANITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
ill
IIf
~hows
PART
2 : PAmRNS
Of WEATHE.RING
orientatjon or concentration. On
the other hand. a.long the twin
planes, the microcTystals of gibbsite
exhibit a regular arrangement typical of septo-alteroll1orphs, in which
they are invariably oriented I)("rpendicular to the trace of the f1ssure~,
'who~e orientation is sb-ongly inlluenced by the twin planes or the precursor. All residues of feldspar show
an irregula.r outline and a cavernous
shape, as is t}'pica.l in such weathered material. Some rcsidues
exhibit holes or irregular internal
147
hol().L~ll-alteromorph
of
CH:lf'TER
Defini tions
Most rock-forming minerals have poorlv de\.-.:;]aped faces, and their shapes are uneven and ~ot diagnostic; they are xenomorphic (anhedral) minerals
(from the Greek ~EVOS foreign and av
without). [n
most cases, the use of the term pseudomorph is thus
improper to describe the secondary products a.nrl textw-es derived from xenomorphic primary minerals
which, by definition. do not exhibit a characteristic
shape or well-developed 1:1C(:s.
T=
olter
/52
CH.-IPTfl\
'
PRIMARY MINERAL
ALTERAnON OR WEATHERING.
FORMATION OF ALTEROMORPHS
WHOSE SHAPES ARE
PRESERVED
ISOALTEROMORPH
EUHEDRAL MINERAL
EXPANDED
MESOAL TEROMORPH
PROTRUDING
PSEUDOMORPH
ECHINOALTEROMORPH
DESTROYED
KATAALTEROMORPH
EPIGEHETlC PROCESS
PHANTOALTEROMORPH
'
f
CRYPTO-ALTEROMORPHS
FIGURE
11.
Dcllnition~
rical criteria,
I.e:. ,
and boundaries.
vxtent
-alter
m()rrh~
PAlMARY MINERAL
FIGUlIE 12.
lSO-ALTEROMORPH'
grain 01" a
primar)' minnal.
l\.ata-alterom()lph
KCI'.TCI'.
.He'iC>-lJ It erornorphs
PAlMARy MINERAL
KATAAl.TEROMORPH
r'IGUJlE 14.
MESa-AtTEAOMORPH
PRIMARY MINERAl
FIGWlI' 13.
Relationship of
primary minero.l.
154
,1
ATlAS
PART 3:
ALTEROMORPHS
155
MINERAL PATTERNS
168
PHLOGOPITE-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
PPL
169
PHLOGOPITE-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
PPL
11
/56
or
170, 171
PHLOGOPITE-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
03
=-
0.2
(
-
0.1
0.0 mm
11
ri,
I1
showcrl
the case of an apatite inclusion
lying parallel to t.he plane of the JayCl'S of the host \crmiculite. Formation of a peripheral pore occurred
as a result of expansion in isolation
[i'om the matrix. The present Clse
shows what happens when a prism
of apatite is nearly pC'rpcnr1icular, or
slightly oblique, to t.hes\" IJ!.mes.
Owing to the expansiun of the host
PART
3:
Al.TEROMORPHS
157
Iso-. MESO-.
KATA-ALTEROMORPHS
172, 171
BIOTITE-RICH
CUNOPYROXENITE
Meso-alteromorph
after biotite
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
.- 0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
or
/58
Iso-,
MESO-, KATA-ALTEROMORPHS
174, 175
BIOTITE-RICH
CLlNOPYROx.ENITE
0.2
:-- 0.\
0.0 mm
. . .
in the
formation
of
knticular
intramineral pores as a result of thl?
transformation of biotite to a
bolinite meso-alteromorpb. The
strongly indurated central part of
the ox.iJizeJ mica cannot expand in
response to the stresses de\'elopeJ
in the kaolinite-rich domains at tht'
margin. Considering t.hat the layering 01' the primary mica is nearly
perpendicular to the plane of the
thin section, the expansion accom
'I'
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
159
Iso-,
MESO-, KATA-ALTEROMORPHS
176, 177
KERSANTITE
Brittany, France
Sampled in a quarry
by E. Bernabe
Interlayered lenticular
deposits within a
meso-alteromorph
after biotite
Objective: x
PPL and XPL
'0
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
pron:s~cs
160
178,179
GRANITIC ROCK
Siago:z.ohoin. Lakota.
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 1.8 m
Meso-alteromorph
after biotite
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
~ 0.2
=. 0.1
0.0 mm
I I I
I I
to conditions
of ferrallitic weathering,
crystals of biotitc arc generally
tra.nsformed to polyphase mesaalteromorphs of bolinite and iron
oxyhydroxides. Thick layers of
kaolinite are re6rularly distributed
and interstratified between lllore
iron-rich layers, which hold the iron
content of the primar)' mineral.
Lenticular intramineral potes also
may develop. The)' may be inJilled
eitber by kaolinitc of allochthonous
origin, or by cryslalliplasmas of
PART
3 : AI.TEROMORPHS
alJochthonous gibbsitc. The appearance of gibbsitc generally is concomitant with the destruction of the
previously formed kaolinite and
witb its replacement by crystalliplasmas of gibbs.ite of autochthonous origin. The photomicrographs
sho\v a meso-alteromorph after its
final stage of weathering. The redcolored layers of iron oxyhydroxides arc regularly associated with
lenticular or planar intJ'arnineral
areas, which represent the final
stag" of desilication of the kaolinite
161
180
GRANITIC VEIN IN
CLlNOPYROXENITE
181
GRANITIC ROCK
Akuvikro, Dimbokro,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 3.6 m
Meso- (ka la) -a Iteromorph
after vermiculite
Objective: x 10
PPL
photomicrograph
sho\vs a small crystal of biot.ite
that has been completely weathered
to a booklet of kaolinite. t..,1ost of
the original iron =ntent has been
leached out, but the surrounding
iron-cnrichl'd intermineral fissure
has pro\'oked this difkrential bcl1a\-'
ior in the margin relative to the
internal area. The iron-enriched
parts have not expanded to the sO:l1ne
extent as the central part, which
results in this unusual habit of the
meso-alteromorph.
162
or
181, 183
PHLOGOPITE-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.3
-
0.2
0.1
=-
0.0 mm
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
meso-alteromorphs of kaoJinite.
The increase of \"olwne during this
second transformation is added to
the earlier increase due to the
transformation of phlogopite to
\'ermiculite, and is expressed by the
long. Gln'cd and faulted crystal of
kaoJinite.
163
Iso-.
MESO-. KATA-ALTEROMORPHS
184, 18S
GRANITIC ROCK
Sakassou, Dlmbokro,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 3.8 m
Meso-(kata)-alteromorph
after biotite
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
02
0.1
0.0 mm
01' restricted
drainage prevailing in the
lower part. of' a profile developed on
a biotite-bcaring granitc, the t1akc~
of biotite are weathered to a smec
tite. The replacement generally
starts along the periphery of the
flakes, and extends irregularly
t.oward the center of the mmeral.
IrreGular
intercalations of ~ecb
ondary l)rocluets progressin.>ly separate the primary biotitc into many
flakes of variable thicknes~. The secondary pronuct is a S\.vclling clay,
164
Iso-, MESO-,
KATA-ALTEROMORPHS
186, 187
GRANITIC ROCK
0,3
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
of weathering of
mica shown in these photomicrographs is rather similar to the
one previously illustrated. The
biootC' has weatherer! to a smectitic
clay but. in this case. the weathe,-ing
is complete, and no residual biotite
remains in the meso-kata-alteromorphs. The buildup of pressure
due to the swelling of the clay promoted the deformation of all the
partjalJ)' den~loped alteromorphs
after biotite into small elliptical
meso-alteromorIJhs, each of them
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPH>
165
Iso-, MESO-,
KATA-ALTEROMORPHS
188
MICA-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
166
Iso-,
MESO-, KATA-ALTEROMORPHS
189, 190
ALTERITE DEVELOPED
ON CLlNOPYROXENITE
1.0
0.0 mm
I)
I' I
I of late mac'matic alteration, several grai~s
or oJj'ine were completely transformed to "iddingsite" iso-<Jlteromorphs, whereas the phlogopite
present in the rock was altered to
vermiculite meso-alteromorphs.
During a later step of supergene
we<Jthering, the "iddingsite" was
replaced by goethite. Magnesium
and silica were lost, but the original
orientation of the "icldingsite" was
maintained. The clinopyToxene was
first weathered to saponite and later
PART
3:
ALTF.ROMORPHS
to kaolinite, where<Js the HTmicuUte also was weathered to kaolinite. The interna.l movements in d1e
a.ltercd and then weathered rock,
due to stTong expan.sion of the secondary product~ during their formation, provoked the breakage of
the brittle grains or "iddingsite" and
the ~ubseqLlent deformation and
breakage of the iso-alteromorphs
into kata-alteromorphs. Under
XPL, the different colorations of the
"iddingsite" areas inclieate that their
optica.l oricntations haye been
167
191, 192
KERSANTITE
Weathered building
Brittany, France
Sampled by E. Bernabe
Kata-aJteromorph
after biotite
Objective: x 6,3
PPL and XPL
..
I
show
tht' recent weatheI'ing of a
building stone subjected to rain and
to atmospheric pol!ut.lnts. A thick
weathererl cortex progressively
became separated from the fresh
building stone by a progn:s~ivel'y
thicker and thicker irregular fissure
as the weathering extended toward
th l' center of the building stone.
Exfoliation or a biotite crystal
resulted in a typical kata-altemmorph under the influence
many
minute crystals of gypsum grov.ing
I
I I
or
168
ATlAS
or
fissure formed between the weathering crust and the hard building
~tone, Wlder the combined inOucnces of rai.n anJ atmospheric pollutants. The part of the hiotite crystal
that is not exfoliated shows several
in-egu lar inclusions of titanite.
193, 194
SOIL DEVELOPED ON
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.3
,;..... 0.2
.
0.1
0.0 mm
I
of hyp0gcnc
alteration, the phlogopite jn
the rock has been altered to "ermiculite, "'hich resulted in the form<1tion of many meso-alteromorph,;
and promoted the disruptiun of the
primary rock. When subjL'cted to
superficial processes, under the
innucnce 01' pedOtlirbation, many
residual minerals have been mixed
into U1e reddish brown pedoplasma.
The vermiculitc residlll:'s arc
quickly transformed into kataaltcromorphs of kaolinite under the
PART
3:
ALTIROMORPHS
169
195
SOIL DEVELOPED ON
CLlNOPYROXENITE
["
~
=-
0.2
-- -- 0.1
0.0 mm
196
SOIL DEVELOPED ON
CLlNOPYROXENlTE
- 0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
l I
l
I
photomicrogTaph
illustrates the case of a small
residue' of vermiculite. Part or it,
fitting tightly within the soil material, is not yet weathered. The other
part, protruding \\'ithin a large
empty pore, is completely wC'J.thered to colorlcss kaolinite. The
bolinite portion of the alteramorph has aClluired a roumlish fanlike shape under the inOul'nce of the
exp.:msion that prc\ailed during the
170
we
we
197
SoiL DEVELOPED ON
BIOTITE-RICH GRANITE
Akuvikro, Dimbokro.
central Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 3.6 m
Meso- and kataalteromorphs
after vermiculite
Objective: x 6.3
PPL
0.3
0.2
c-
0.1
0.0 mm
198
SOIL DEVELOPED ON
BIOTITE-RICH GRANITE
Akuvikro, Dimbokro,
central Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 4.8 m
Meso- and kataalteromorphs
after vermiculite
Objective: x 10
PPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
photomicrograph
shows an irregular assemblage
of many meso- and kata-alteromorphs resulting from the weathering of biotite crystals to kaolinite
after an intermediate step of vermiculite. All these chemical Iv/ resistant
alteromorphs are now mixed within
the soi I material, but their poor
mechanical resistance is responsible
for their deformation. The irregular
distribution of all these alteromorphs, and the cLiJficult)' to recognize the original shapes and outhnes
i l l .)
PART) : ALrrRoMoRPHS
171
GEOMETRI 'A
PARTICULAR
CRITEIUA:
ASE.-
or
p~
uJomMpb.
and
characteristic faces
Echino-a/t eromorphs
meaning.
fiGURE
grain of a pri.
EXLVO~
PRIMARY M\N~RAL
ECHIt'fQ,ALTERQMORPH
16.
Relationshjp of an cchino-.'ltcmmorph to;) grajn (If
a pri,nary rninerJI.
FIGUHE
172
qHXVTG'.(TfJ.-Cl
smectit,~-rich alteromorph.
Phanto-alt r morph-
T
PART
3;
ALTIROMORPHS
PAIMAAY MINERAL
17.
Hc!Juon.sh.ip
primar! millcral.
fl(;UHI'
PHANlQ-ALTEROMORPH
173
netic process invol \ing elements such as Fe, Al, Ca, and
Si plays a dominant role.
Cl~\Pto-OIte romorphs
KpVTITHV
individual
original
174
fIGURF.
A.
0:
I:
2:
l:
4:
18.
Three dilferent pt'imar), minerals, and only onc secondary minel'al is produced
irregular assemhlage of anhedral crystal., of orthocla.'e and plagiodasc wilh ,1 "uhhedral'T)'stal of hiotitc;
irregular p,'lIieular anti une"r incipient wNth,'ring of th,: main primary minerals tu gih!>site;
G1H'rnOUS residues ar,' isolated. with residual void" bctwe('n sepia of gibhsil". BionIc we.ld,crs 10 kaolinite;
minute residues uf j<-Idspar. mall.\' f('sidual voiels and incipient weaclll'ring uf the hiotit' - ka,-,Iinil'~ to gibhsilc;
glomero-Sl'p"ric and linear le"tures Wilhout clearly recognized boumlarics: CI\YPTO-ALTEROMORPHS.
No"': The parallel linear te"ture and the interlJ~'crcd deposit, of iron o"~'h~'dro,,ides allow the altcromorph Jflcr biotite tl) he clearly distinguished. in the cryprulUorpnk assemblage, from the alteromorphs aft,'r the feldsrars. The ,'dei'pars start to wealher along fractures, cleavage' amJ twin planes; intcrmincral houndarics rrogrcssivdY tend tu disarp'-'lr.
B.
0:
Two dilTerent primary min""als, and only one second.ary mineral produced, but io different orientations
2:
an olivin" crystal wiu, its curvcd protoda.sric fract1Jres has gl'Own in cuntan with a c1ea\'cd crystal of orthopyn,x~ne;
ncady complete wcathcring uf me olivint: into lerrifewu" ,meetite and incipicnt weathering uf the orthoPFoxene;
unorienkd texrur.. of the smectil': after o!i"in<" and para 11,<1 band"d te"tur<.- d.. fineJ by oriented particles of ,mect;le after the
3:
sparse denrjculate r",iuu,'s "f orthopyro""ne I\'ithin regularly orienled sml"clile; (hin depo'its of Ft' o""h~'dro"ide, along fractures and
I:
p)'roxenc;
dt~(n"ges~
4-'
Note: The hOLUldal')' het""en the alreromorphs is delimited Oltl)' b)' the difrerent or;t'ntatiul15 of the sme<,tite. In the casc of an oli\;n<:- and
orthopyroxene.rich rock. the weathered rock can ""hibit many ",;semhlages of cr)'plo-allernmorphs, whl)s~ origin is "ecognizable
only hy the orientation of the smcctitc and hy the ,unlu(k (If the original ti-,lCl'Ures.
C.
2:
Onc. partly polyphase alteromorph (with primary' mineral) and similar secondary products
a larg" 'Tvsul of nli"ine is partl)' rerlaccd I", a ,'On)!la (>1' a >y,nrlcctilic assemhlage ,,1- hyp('rslhene and lllagmtilc;
in(ipi~nt weathering or the residual cur" uf uli\'ine to a smecLite along ir., rrotoclastk frKnlreS;
complete weathering of the olivin,' enre 10 ,mcetite, \\'Iwrea~ the svmpkctiric corona is still UIlwcalh"rcd;
]:
par-d:' weathered h)'persthcnc to sn'1cctitc \,ho.<i~ cornp1hilion is similar to that oJ' the "'1nl"'ctit<.: '.:d'rer oli\'inc;
4:
0:
1
10
Note: Only tht presence "I' the original intcrgrowth with magnetitc .11l"ws cl,e srnectik-hcaring alternmorph after orthl)pyroxent to he
dearlv distinguished !'rom Ihe intcrgmwth.h"c a!tcr<lInnrr'!> after oli''-;n". Thi' complc" assembl,lg"
mineral.. lead.. tl) the devel
IJp'tlent ,,1' pol~rhase, polygen(tie "ry'ptu-altanmorphs,
or
P"'I\1 3: AlTEROMORPHS
175
199,200
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
OLlVINE
Kivu. Democratic
Republic of Congo
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
201,202
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
OLlVINE
Sonora. Mexico
Sampled by L. Paz
Moreno
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
six-sided shape
or a euhedral crvstal or olhrine
in a basaltic rock. r\ thin rim oC dark
green sapon.it{" is irregularly dc\'cl
oped around the cTJ'stal. The higher
interCerence-color or the rim is an
indication of a higher iron content.
176
203,204
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
ORTHOPYROXENE
20S,206
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
CUNOPYROXENE
Kivu, Democratic
Republic of Congo
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
t
I,,
,
of orthop)TOXene (bypersthene) is characterized by its pleochroism, in
shades of pink. The cr)'stal normally
has a slTaight extinction. bUl the
c:ry~tal shown has been fractured
and slightly deformed by tectonic
forces, 'The two halves of the prism
PART
3 : AiTERml0RPHS
intcrFerenc~-colors
177
--~
207,208
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
ClINOPYROXENE
Kivu, Democratic
Republic of Congo
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
0.4
- 02
0.0 mm
209,210
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
HORNBLENDE
Koua Bocca,
Cote d'lvoire
Objective: x 2.5
PPL and XPL
1.0
0.0 mm
178
111,112
SUBHEORAL CRYSTALS:
PLAGIOCLASE
Visoke volcano,
Democratic Republic
of Congo
Objective: x 4
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
213,214
EUHEORAL CRYSTAL:
PLAGIOCLASE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
i l l .\ I of porphyritic basalt
shows a typical glomeroporphyritic texture. Lath-shaped subhedral phcnocrysts of plagioclase
are clustered in aggregates of radiating crystals carled glomerocrysts.
They are enclosed by a fIDe-grained
ground mass composed of ouvine,
PART 3 : ALTEROMORrHS
179
215,216
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
TlTANITE
Koua Bocca.
Cote d'lvoire
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
0.1
0,0 mm
217,218
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
EPIDOTE
0.2
0,1
I
is commonly observed
as an accessory mineral in many
igneous rocks. Crystab are generally diJmond-shaped, as shown
here. Its shape, its bra,","""!] color Jnd
its high relief mJke it casy to identify in th.in section, Its \'ery high
180
0.0 mm
219,220
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
GARNET
Brittany, France
Objective: x 4
0,6
0.4
0,2
0.0 mm
221,222
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
STAUROLlTE
1.0
0,0 mm
T'
i r
11
t.
I
of garnet
exhihits nearly all the charactelistic features of members of this
group. Coloration in shades of pink,
a high relief. numerous inclusions.
and radial or crossing fractures are
clearly seen in PPL, whereas its
cuhic symmetry makes the grain
PART
3:
ALTEROHORPHS
181
_--
.....
--"
223,224
EUHEDRAL CRYSTAL:
PEROVSKITE
0.2
0.1
225,226
EUHEDRAL CRYSTALS:
APATITE AND PYRITE
0,3
o.1
0.2
=-
0.1
0.0 mm
perovski te
(orthorhombic, I)seudocubic
symmetry) exhibits in thin section
some similarities witb titanite,
namely a high relief and a dark
I)rown coin!". However. the presence
of multiple twinning observed in
XPL, a more roundish shape, and
t.he mineral J.ssociation of the host
182
0.0 mm
227,228
BASALTIC ROCK
Ocean floor
Costa Rica Rift
Leg 70, site S04b
Sampled by C. Laveme
Pseudomorph
after olivine
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
03
!
~
02
':- 0.1
0.0 mm
I
of oli\'ine is
completely altered to a pseudomorph of' saponite. No internal
pores are distinguishable at the .scale
of the optical microscope. It would
seem that the molar volLmiCs of the
P rimal-Y. and secondarv minerals arc
similar, such that the resulting
alteromorph is an iso-holo-pscudomorph. The orientation of the secondary particles 01" sapon.ite is not
uniform.
Most particles are
arranged accord.ing to a parallel
bannen pattern. which corresponds
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
to internal cracks orient.:d perpendicular to the long axis of the original crystal of olivinc, \vhcreas the
other clay rich domains are oriented par;dlel to the plane or th::
thin section. The banded texture
cxh.ibits bright interference-colors,
whereas the other domains are at
extinction
under
XPL. The
pleochroism of the saponite can be
seen in PPL; the clay mineral is pale
),ellow where oriented perpendicular to the plane of the section, and
brownish beige where oriented par-
183
229,230
BASALTIC ROCK
Ocean floor
Costa Rica Rift
Leg 70, site S04b
Sampled by C. Laverne
Pseudomorph
after olivine
Objective: x 16
PPL and XPL
[01
[
can also
/84
OOmm
entire \,olume of the original primary mineral. There is no modilkation of \o]ume., and intramincral
pore~ are absent. The alteromorph
is
holo-r)seudonlOrph.
231,232
CAlC-AlKAUNE
granitic rock
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvoire
Sampled at outcrop
Pseudomorph
after allanite
Objective: x 16
PPL and XPL
[J
-
0.0 mm
1
I ,\
of allanite
(epidote group) ha~ been comIJletely weathered to poorly crystallized saponite under the inHucnce of
two processes. Metamictization,
which strongly disrupts the crystal's
structure, is due to the allanite's
high content of' radioactive elements. Near-surface weathering led
to the preferential replacement of
this damaged crystal. In PPL, tJ1C
PAf\T 3; ALTEROMORPH5
185
211,214
BASALTIC ROCK
Ocean floor
Costa Rica Rift
Leg 70, site S04b
Sampled by C. Laveme
Polyphase pseudomorph
after olivine
Objective: x 16
PPL and XPL
0.0 mm
186
23S, 236
METAGABBRO
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
.Jl,l"
1"
is composed
PAR'T 3 : ALTEROMORPHS
187
237
MICA-RICH
PYROXENITE
0.3
=-
0.2
0,1
:0- 0.0 mm
188
238,239
ORTHOPYROXENEAND
BIOTITE-RICH
PYROXENITE
0,6
0.4
- 02
0,0 mm
T .
PART 3 : ALTffiOMORPHS
189
240,24.
ORTHOPYROXENE
AND BIOTlTE-RICH
PYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
.- 0.2
0.0 mm
1I
, I
is similar to
Ulat shown in the former photographs. Although the rock is
strongly metamorphosed, UJc original texture is clearly recognizable. A
rim of magnetite surrounds the
alteromorphs after pyroxene; these
rims are thuUler than UJose shown
in the previous iUustrations, but UJe
size, shape and distribution of Ule
alteromorphs are similar. The higher
I:,rrade of the hypogene process has
resulted in UJc replacement of both
primary orthopyroxene and biotite
by UJe same secondary mineral: aJl
190
242,243
GABBRO
plagioclase
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
-
0.2
0.1
~ 0.0
mm
I,
I,
of' olivine
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
or
191
244,245
GABBRO
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
0.0 mm
arc to
be compared to the two preceding ones. In the medi= part of
the thick oxidized cortex that surrounds the relatively wlweathered
core of the weathered boulrler from
which the preceding photographs
were taken, the sapuni.te domains
are oxidized, and replaced by reddish brown secondary products
whose optical characteristics arc
very similar to those of the cam
monly observed "iddingsitc". The
origin of this secondary I)roclllct is
192
made c!c<Jr by the fact that all intermediate steps of coloration can be
observed, the alteromorph after
olivine being yellow in the core of
the boulder and red in its corlex.
This comparison allows the penetration of the sal)onite formed at the
expense or olivine into the feldspar
to be better \cisualized, although in
this case, agra..i.n ofpyroxene (C3) is
parrly located between the ouvine
and the Feldspar grains. Dark brown
areas of iron oxvhvdroxidcs
are ran,
doml)' uistTibuted around the
)
146,147
BASALTIC ROCK
Morocco
Sampled by A. Dekayir
Crypto-alteromorphs
after olivine
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
\
I
I of olh'ine
crystals has been weathered to
i '
PART
3 : AlTEROMORPHS
193
148,149
DIABASE
Touba.
western C6te d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Cortex on a boulder
Crypto-alteromorphs
after c1inopyroxene
and plagioclase
Objective: x I 0
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.00101
has been
transformed, LUlder conditions
01' f'en-allitic weathering, tu a typical
cr)'ptomorphic
assemblage
of
alteromol'phs after pbgiuclase (colorless lath.shaped altcromorphs in
PPL) irregularly associated \\'ith
alteromorphs after lerromagncsian
minerals (brown-colorcd altemmorl)!ls in PPL). The lower photomicrograph, take_n in XPL, clearly
shuws the mineralogical and micnJtextural differences ~xhjbited hy the
two kinds of alteromorphs. The
feldspar crysta.ls have been \ycathcred tu glomero-altcromorphs of
194
250, 25 I
AMPHIBOLlTE
(metadiabase)
Guarulhos, SP, Brazil
Sampled by M. Bergman
at rock outcrop
Case I:
unweathered rock
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
06
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
and
the next four are taken from
onc large sample that contains a
large core of uJlweathered rock surrounded by a very thick cortex of
completely weathered rock. The
photomicrographs of the unwC'athered rock are shown here to better
\izualize ho\\" quickly a rock with
typical and easily identifiable minerals and texture has become, under
conditions of ferrallitic weathering.
a completely weathered cortex; in
it. both minerals and textures are
PART
11',
11.
3 : ALTEROMOR.PHS
'.
\,
195
252,253
AMPHIBOllTE
(metadiabase)
Guarulhos. SP, Brazil
Sarnpled by M. Bergman
at rock outcrop
Case 2:
partly weathered rock
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
-- 0,6
0.4
- 0.2
0.0 mm
196
254,255
AMPHIBOLlTE
(metadiabase)
Guarulhos. SP, Brazil
Sampled by M. Bergman
at rock outcrop
Case 3:
completely weathered
rock
Crypto-alteromorphs
after amphibole
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPHS
197
256
IRON CRUST
DEVELOPED
ON MICA SCHIST
PPL
[01
0.0 mm
257
IRON CRUST
DEVELOPED
ON CLlNOPYROXENITE
PPL
--
0.3
0.2
_
0.1
0.0 mm
198
258
ANORTHOSITE
0.6
0.4
- 02
O.Omm
is a
monomineralic rock composed
of coarse-graine<1 crystals of plagioc1ase (labradorite). The weathering
of this ca1ciWll-rich rock results in
the release of very important quantities of C<J1cium ions, which are
IeJChed a\\'a~' from the weathering
profiles, being transferred within
the soils and ,,-ear.hering profiles of
the lower parts of the landscape.
There. they accumulate as cakrete
or as nodules of microcrystalline
calcite (microspa.rire) several centimetcrs or decimeten long. vVhere
f'
PA~T
3 : Al1iJ\OMO~PH~
199
159,160
PVROXENITE
OJ
~ 0.2
~ 0.1
=--
200
0.0 mm
161
IRON CRUST
0.3
02
0.1
0.0 mm
, ~.
(:
primary mineral has been completely
weathered to ox yhydroxides of
iron. The original boundary' of the
alteromorph has been largely
obscured by the later replacement
of the iron compounds during the
formation of the iron crust. The
internal mOI-phology has also been
destroyed by successive episodes of
recr)'stallization of the secondary
crystalliplasmas and by the opening
of n('wly formed internal pores.
Traces of' several rransmineral fractures are easily recognizable within
the alterol11orph: a large Fracture
PART
3 : ALUROMORPHS
or
or
201
262
IRON CRUST
DEVELOPED
on Blrrlmian schists
Toumodi. Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.8 m
Phanto-alteromorph
after epidote
Objective: x 4
PPL
0.6
0.4
- 0.2
0.0 mm
202
163,164
GABBRO
Ribeirao Preto,
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Depth: 0.4 m
Complex meta-cumulophanto-alteromorph
after plagioclase
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
=--
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
T ' ..
11
\'
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
203
CH,HTER
PRIMARY MII\IERAL
WEATHERING
NO RESIDUAL PORES
= FULL ALTEROMORPH
HOLOALTEROMORPH
I
"PORO"-ALTEROMORPH
FIGURE 19.
Ddll\iti(lIl~ or Jltcrolflorl'hs on u'e hJ.'i' r)r micro[",'1.Ural crileria, I,"., the compl,'mentat! rJi'l.rihlltio" of I..he
seconder) product., and "I' Uil' resid lIal pore' w i ill.in ,-he
alternmorphs. For further criteria
NO SECONDARY PRODUCTS
= EMPTY ALTEROMORPH
or dassil1carion,
S(:L'
Fil:!-
'
KOILO-ALTEROMORPH
TIlL PROPOJH10N 01
OUD
OAO~ =
whole. full. complete) correspond to fully developed alteromorphs in which the volume of the
secondary minerals is apparently equal to the
original volume of the primary mineral. The volume of the possible micropores is not perceptible
at the scale of the optical microscope. and it is
not taken into account.
The se.condary phase exhibits a dense and homogeneous aspect, with or without particular iJ1ternal
textw-cs due to variations i.n grain si.ze or orientation or
the sccondar~' minerals. Holo-alteromorphs are generally produced by peripheral centripetal weathering of
poorly clea\-ed alld unrractureJ minerals under conditions or leaching that do not promote rhe extensin'
removal of th", original soluble constituents. 111 tl1i~
case, the VOlWl1C of the voids is minimal (fig. 20).
KOlAO~
= empty, hollow) correspond to empty alteromorphs. wIthout any secondary mineral. developed by weathering of a soluble mineral (Fig. 21).
The outline or a koilo-alteromorph is ephemeral.
and corresponds to a part of the outline of adjacent mineral grains. The definition of a koiloalteromorph may be extended to an alteromorph
whose content of residual material does not
PRIMARY MINERAL
HQLG-ALTEROMOAPH
e.xceed 2.5%.
FIGURE 20.
206
PAIIJ.ARY MINf:FtAl
....OILQ..Al TER,OMORPH
21.
R~la{ionship of a koilo-all('''Orl\orph
prim,,,';' lTJineral,
fiGURE
In
a grain of 'a
PART
3 : AlTROMORPHS
synchronous \\ith \ycathering, the potentiaJ koiloalteromorph does n0t develop, and the identification (lf
its origin is easy if examples of ephemeral coexistence
of primary mineral residue,~ and IIrst-fOl-med in fillings
an' ohserved. E\'en where ephemeral two-phase
alterolTIorphs arc not obscned in the thin section, the
nanlre of their infilling material \vill be similar to the
infilling material of fracturcs and pores of the surrounding alteriLc. Therefore, the allochthonous origin
of the inJllling material is suggested, and the presence
of potential koilo-alteromorplv; is con.flrmed, The
narllre of the inFilling material may be in geochemical
discordance with the composition of clle observable
residues or the primar~' minclal. Where such genchemicalJy discordant alteromorphs arc obscn'ed, the
occurrence of potentiaJ kOilo-alteromorphs at the
expense uf completely' soluble minerals may be suspected, and the allochthonous origin of the inlllling is
confIrmed.
Those altemmorphs cllat contain onl)' infilling
materiaIs of allochthonolls 0rigin are wmulo-( koilo)alu:romorphs (see below). Their origi.n \\-iJl be identified
only with JifTjculty withollt residues of the primarv
min('ral in the. alteromorph concerned or in similar
neighboring alteromorphs.
The most common example of such a koiloalteromorph later infilled by allochthonou5 material is probably given by the dissolution of quarcz
grains in an old bauxitic or iron crust, As a quartz
grain is gradually dissolved and as its outlines are
corroded, the newly formed pores and embayments are immediately filled up with gibbsite-rich
or ferruginous allochthonous material, which
comes from the surrounding matrix or is transported through neigh boring fractures. It must be
emphasized that in such a case. the infilling material has a chemical composition that differs
strongly from the composition of the replaced
mineral: quartz does not contain aluminum or
iron, and the infilling material does not contain silica. The infilling of a kOilo-alteromorph after
quartz by calcite cryscallaria' exhibitS a similar
geochemical discordance,
The cumulative infillings may also occur much
lat('r. In such a case, the empty koilo-aJteromorph is
completel)' devdoped long before the first allochthonou,; deposiLs occur. As a result, empty koiJo-alteromorphs and Clunulo-kOilo-alteromorphs are normally'
not ohserved in the same thin section, but they may be
found within two different le\cels of the same profile.
The)' may also never have developed. Empt)' holes
obsCl'ved in old ferruginous crusts and within ferruginous cortices arowld nodules and concretions may
207
208
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
265,266
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I..
I'd I
;1 process has
altered an olivine crystal into
reddish brown "iddingsite", and a
typical holo-alteromorph results:
no rcsidual pores arc observed at
the scale of the optical microscope.
The small specks, colorless in PPL
(Be2) and extinct in XPL, are sec
tions of thin pl'ismatic crystills of
apatite..'\nother crystal of apatite,
lying in the plane of the thin section
(C4), is barch- visible through the
transparent "idcl.ingsite". The original network of protoc!astic fractun's of the primary o]j"ine has
PART) : ALTEROMORPHS
209
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
267,268
OllVINE-BEARING
ClINOPYROXENITE
0,4
0.2
of oli\int>
has been complete-I)' altered,
under the influence of hypogl"ne
processes, to an assuciation of talc
and magnetite. The associatiun of
these two minerals i:-; commonly
encounter~d, and the resulting
altcromorph after olivine is a
pol>phase alteromorph, a~ both
minerals, talc and secondary m:lgnetite, ha ye. formed together during
the same hydrotherm,11 step. The
minute graim of magnetite are
mainly developed within the rim of
the alteromorph, and the~' are
210
0.0 mm
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
169,170
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
Depth: 10.2 m
Holo-alteromorph
after olivine
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
0./
O.Omm
11
I
of oli\;ne isolated
within this c1inoJJ)'l'oxene-rich
rock are completely weathered to
holo-alteromorphs of saponite,
whose layers are regularly JrraJlged
in a parallel set of thick lamellae.
The volume and number of the
residual pores, visible at the scale of
the optical microscope, are very
small, and are probably due to
imperfect impregnation of this
sample, in which most minerals arc
not weathered. The saponite layers
exhibit their usual yellow colors in
PPL. In X PL, the parJllel stacking
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
of the layers and their uniform orientation are ('},:pressed b)' the uniform second- Jnci third-order
interference-colon over tl1e entire
holo.alteromorph which, for the.>t'
illustrations, has been rotated to the
angle of maximum illumination.
The original o'ystal of olivine was
broken by several proroclastic fractures, regularly coated by a thin
deposit of magnetite, which is now
weathered to irregular bro\\'n
patches. Coarse opaC]ue grains of
magnetite, inside (D2) or olltside
(D5) the oJivine crystal, arc appar-
211
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
271,272
PEROVSKITE-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
of' permskitc
(CaTi0 3 ), commonly associ,Heel with magnetite or lIme-nite or
both, ha~ been completely weathered to secondarv, mic:rolTvstalli.ne
,
anatase (Ti0 2), whereas the c<llcium
content of the original mineral has
been leached away. The associated
magneljte (E5) is not, or barely.
weathered. The grain size of t.he
anatase is different according tn
location in rc-htio)) with the
212
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
171,174
--~"''''''II-
OLIVINE-BEARING
CUNOPYROXENITE
0.3
0.2
01
0,0 mm
, composed of
two joined crvstab whose
respective orientations differ, is
completely altered to saponile,
wbose regular optical orien.tation is
~trongly dependent upon the original ol'ientation of the primar)' cry~
tals of olivine. The orientation of the
secundarvI mineral in the 10\H'l' left
part or the altcromorph. which is
bright ),ello\\ in PPL, is nCilrly parallel to the plane of the thi.n section,
whereas in the upper right. part or
the Jlteromorph., heige-calmed i.n
PART
3'
ALTEI\OMORPHS
213
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
275,276
OUVINE GABBRO
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
of oJivine
has been replaced by a holo,
alteromorph of saponite under the
infl uenee of a late- magmatic process.
111f' original network of protoclastic
fractures of th~' primary crystal,
with their content of minute grains
of magnetite, is sull c1earl~' distinguishable as randoml)' miented
bJack-colored alignments. Thesc
strOllu]y
contrast with the ,vel lowish
l=-.J
or,lIlge color of the secondary clay
minNal. Ooly onc secundary mineral has becn formed during the
2/4
alteration process.
5illCC
no
intnmincral residual pores are discernible, the resulting alteromorph
is consequently Dot a polyphase
alteromorph, but ,-ather a normal
(monophase) holo-alteromorph.
The small roundish colorless crvstals included within the alteromOl'ph are primar)' crystals of
apatite. Note the conspicuous pattern of internal distribution of optical orientations of the saponite. This
lmusual pattern, which appears only
in X PL, is rarely encountered.
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
277
IRON CRUST ON
CLINOPYROXENITE
- 0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
of
'luart7. may become trapped in
old ferrallitic irun crusts formed on
tlle deep weathered profiles del'eloped on ultl-,unafic rocks. Under
conditions of ferraUitic weathering,
these iron-rich rocks may develop a
I'ery thick weathcrcd mantle, whose
upper part is subjected to intense
leaching of silica, with concomitant
relative accumulation of the insoluble components such as iron, aluminum and titanium. The alurninllm
content of the primary rock (410
AI20~1) is tOO low to alk)l\' tlle formation of impoTta.llt alurninum-rich
residual materials, whereas their
higb iron content promotes the formation of thick. hardened cOI'ers of
iron-rich crusts in ,,-hieh th,~
unweatherable residual mineral,
may become trapped. The quartz
originates from the numerous veins
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
215
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
278
GRANITIC ROCK
Locality: unknown
Sampled in Brazil
by A. Melfi
Cumulo-koiloalreromorph after
quartz grains
Objective: x 2.5
XPL
10
0.0 mm
aggregate of
quart? is partly weathered by
congruent di.~,olution along irregular cracks and patches: empty open
dissolution-induced
pores
are
f'ormed, either withln the quartz
grains or along the intergranuJar
boundaries. The occurrence of several distinct component quartz
grains is attested to hy the fact that
U1CV do not exhiblt the same interI
fercIJce-colors in XPL. The dissolution-induced pores are efficiently
fillet.! hy rdati"ely coarse crystals of
gibbsite of alluchthonous origin;
these do not occupy <Ill tJw al'ail<lbk
volume of the residual pores. The
alignment of the gibbsite crystals in
the fractures and cracks does not
216
HOLQ-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
279,280
BAUXITIC PROFILE
developed on granite
Siago:Lohoin, Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 3.4 m
Sampled by B. Bou/ange
Cumulo-koiloalteromorph
after quartz
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
OJ
0.2
0.1
~
0.0 mm
!
,
I I'
11 ~
is strong Iv
affected bvl conditions of fcn'allitic and baux.itic weathering: tJle
plagioclasc and orthocJase are converted into gibbsite-bearing glomero-septo-altcromorphs, and the
quartz grains are partly dissolved,
lea\ing residual empty pores. The
weathered horizon is then subjected
to illuviation of allochthonous
materials coming from tlw upper
part of tile profue. The quartz grains
are fractured and partly dissolved;
empty CTacks and dissolution pores
surround smoothl), shaped G1V-
PART 3 : ALTEROMORPHS
or
rich aJlochthonous material. Inn 11ings can alternate or can be incomplete or C'xternJl1;' distributed, A
second generation of gibbsite
deposits is observed ill some rnOI'e
recently formed residual pores. The
shapes of the concentric rims of
gibbsite seem to be related to the
successive shapes of the dissolved
q uart7. grain.
217
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
~.
281,282
BAUXITIC PROFILE
developed on granite
Siagozohoin. Lakota.
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 3.8 m
Sampled by B. Boulange
Cumulo-koiloalteromorph
after quartz
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
~ 0.2
218
0.1
0.00101
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
283,284
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.2
0.1
:.... 0.0 mm
,JII
or
PMT 3 : ALTEROMORPHS
or
219
HOLO-, KOILO-ALTEROMORPHS
185,186
APATITE-RICH
CARBONATITE
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
rrll I
I
,in
220
enee of' these tlrst and second generations of apatite crystab has
allowed the isalteritic character of
the completely weathered rock to
be maintained. The second generation of apatite crystals has an extraalteromorphic origin; the koiloaJteromorphs that host them are
cumulo-koilo-alterolnorphs.
"P
TIOPOL
Pc
I ,VOLUM.E,
CRITERIOJ
A/\ eoporo-alteromorph
= cell, small
caVity)
POAO"Al,TEROMQA,PH
FIGUIU 22.
Relarionsllip of a "poro"-"Jrerolllorph
primary mint'rJ!.
10
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
221
PORO"-ALTEROMORPH
PLANAR PARALLEL
ORIENTED
IRREGULAR ALVEOLAR
RANDOM
PHYLLOPORO-ALTEROMORPH
ALVEOPORO-ALTEROMORPH
THREEDIMENSIONAL NETWORK
RETICULATE
t
RETIPORO-ALTEROMORPH
I
+
ALVEOLAR CENTRAL
CENTROPORO-AlTEROMORPH
FIGURe 23.
Ddinitiull" ,)( alkrolllfwpbs on lfw. hasis uf m.iaot,-,tural criteria: the classification ()( the nporon_alrcroDlorphs
aL-cording to the disnibution l)r voids.
222
Centroporo-a/rt?l"Omorp!ls
FIGlIllt: 2+.
RdJriollsl-up or an a!l-coporo-alt,'roll1orph
or il pl-jm"rv miner.l.
= center. middle)
PAIMAFlY MINERAL
tu a grain
the final stage of ("volution of perinuclcar* and int<:rplasma - mineral* pores developed in panly weathered minerals_ The\' arc located at the sites from which
the last remnants llf the residue have disappeared.
Where not disturbed b~- external processes, this
internal pore-space is generallv not connected to
external pores. /\s a result, it is rarely inllll~d by later
deposits of allochthonOllS origin.
Vs =
PART
3 : ALTER-OMORPHI
This is the t\lJical caS{' of a mono-ahcoporoalteromorph. This particular ryp'" of internal porosity
is common in alteromorph_~ rleveloped by weathering
uf small, unclea\"(~d and unfracturcd gra.i.ns or primary
minerals. TI1('" residual wlume of the primary mineral
progressively decreases b~' periph~ral centripetal
weathering. Simultaneously. the thickness of the rim or
alteroplasma and that of the perinuclear void both
increase. The chemical elements that do not enter the
mineralogical makeup of the altemlJ!asma are leached
out, and their removal is responsible for the main part
or the residual POfT_ The chemical elements that make
up the Illincrals of the altt'roplasma must be transferred rrom the surface of the rcnmant to the surrounding rim through the inter-plasma - mineral void.
Where the leaching and re:mo\-al of the chemical constituents are \'er~' important, the \'olume of the residual products ma~' be vcry small. ;\ continuous thin HIm
of secondarv products is de\'elllpccl along the internal
sw-face of the alteromorl)h_ That particular pattern of
distribution makes the alteromorph vcry similar to a
koilu-a.l terommph_
The external outline of the rim on the alterorJ!asrna generally follows intennincral boundaries. Its
pattern is Simple, more or less polyhedral, and linear_
In conlTast, its internal outline may be either smooth
ami regular, which gives a rim of constant thickness, or
irregular and denticulate, which gh'es, at least in detail.
a rim of' irregular thickness.
Small grains of pyroxene and amphibole.
where completely weathered. commonly exhibit
such a pactern. with a denticulate central pore.
223
224
P/~rlJop
ro-ulteromo"ph'
FIGURE 25.
Relationship
of a prlrnary mineral.
F'li"YLLOPOAOALTEROMORFH
or a pnyllol)oro-altcrnrnnrph to a grain
PART] : ALTEROMORPHS
ReLipol"u-aJreromorph!>
225
FIGURE
26.
RmpORe-At TrnOMORPH
PRIMARY MINf:RAl
Rcbtiomhip or J rctipurn-Jlteromorph
10 J
grain uf
a primary mineraL
226
OF NEPHElINE
287
CLINOPYROXENITE
0.3
1
0.2
~ 0.1
0.0 mm
I
I of the profile,
uDder conditions of restricted
drainage, several randomly oriented
crystals of c1inopyroxene have been
completely weathered, peripherally
and centripetally, to well-oriented
packets of clay. Each aJteromorph
exhibits its own orientation according to that of the Z axis of the precursor grain, During most 01' the
weathering process, the p:Toxene
has been directly weathered to
saponite without the fOl'mation of
residual pores between the secondary product and the residual
cores of pyToxene. The n.:trrow
interlayer pores are typical of phylloporo-alteromorphs, as v'vill be
shown in photomicrographs 292
and 293. At the enJ of the weathering process, under conditions of less
restricted drainage, the residues of
p)TOXene have beeD dissolved, without producing anything but irregu-
PART
3 ; ALTEROMORPHS
227
188,289
CUNOPYROXENITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I I
I
..
illustrate a case of clinopjToxene
weathering that i~ very similar' to
the previous onc. The first step of
weathering corresponds to the for
mation of a partly developeu ph)'lIo.
alteromorph, whosl" secondary
pruducts are well molded against
the residues of p~Tuxene, "vithout
perinuclear pores. The secondary
prouucts are well oriented parallel
to the I axis of the primary mineral
With increasing intensity of weathering, rJle r)~TOXCne residuC's are
then dissolved, without the forma-
228
me
ATLAS
290,291
CLlNOPYROXfNITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
T.
is I'cry similar to
the previous on~, but the
alteromorph is cur perpcnclicubr to
the Z axis
thc clinopyroxene, not
parallel to it. Both sets or perpendicuLlr deal'ages arc normally
obserl'able in such a section. Since it
is only developed acconfutg to a
direction parallel to the Z axis aoci
not along the clcal'age planes
the
primar~; mineral, t.he dentiC1.lJation
of the res.idual core:, of dinopyroxlOne and of its seconcJary products is
largely obscured in such a section.
Traces or these cleavages can be dis-
or
or
PART
3: ALTEllOMORPHS
229
292,293
CLlNOPYROXENITE
"of clinop)Toxene
ha\'e been completely weathered
to a smectitic clay mineral of
saponitic composition. No primary
residues are present in the alteromorph, whose intel-nal texture corresponds to that of a regular
phylloporo-alterornorph. The thin
regular pore-space is only distingUishable at high magnification. The
regularity of the pores is mainly due
to the fact that all secondary particles are well oriented parallel to the
Z axis of the primary mineral. As a
" I
230
I.
294
GRANITIC ROCK
BR 163. Brazil
Sampled by F. Soubies
Depth: unknown
Phylloporo-alteromorph
(meso-aJteromorph)
after mica
Objective: x I 0
PPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
295
BIOTITE-RICH
CLINOPYROXENITE
ill
'0
11
'111.1111',
I)
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
231
296,297
COARSE-GRAINED
AMPHI80LlTE
Southwestern
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 3.6 m
Retiporo-alteromorph
after feldspar
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
::.... 0.0 mm
is completely
weathered to a n:llo\vish
isotropic material. This secondary
material is divided into se\'eral
pieces by an irregular network of
open intramineral fractures. These
fractures exhibit a somewhat llierarchical pattern, and their walls are
mainly accordant surfaces. Each
part of the divided secondary phase
is in turn irregularly lTossed by a
nur-ober of thin Fractures of se-conel
and thirel order. This successive Fracturing is due to a process 01' progressive dehydration of the isotropic
232
Some patches of crystallized material appear within the retiporoaltcromorph; they arc small
crystallal'ia of gibbsite, which normally develop later at the expense
of the ephemeral and transitory
isotropic material. The sample was
taken at the base of a profile showing ferrallitic weathering.
298,299
COARSE-GRAINED
AMPHIBOLlTE
Southwestern Cote
d'lvoire
Depth: 4.2 m
Retiporo-alteromorph
after plagioclase
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
;- 0.2
0,1
0,0",,,,
Ill. I
"of feldspar has
been completely weathered to
an intermediate isotropic secondary
prodUCT in the lower horizon of a
ferrallitic profile. The rock is COIn
posed of coarse-grained plagiodasc
and hornblende. Owing to the illf'
ference of weatherability of the two
primary minerals, the plagiocla,e
call be complete I)' weathered.
whereas the hornblende still seems
practically unweathered. The occur
rence of nwnerolls grains of com
pletely weathered plagioclase gi\'cs
to th~, paruaJJy weathered rock a
PART
3 : A.LTEROMORPKS
233
300,30.
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
Pedra Balao,
POt;OS de Caldas.
MG, Brazil
Depth: 0.6 m
Retiporo-alteromorph
after nepheline
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0,3
0.1
0.0 mm
T"
f (luja\rrite) con
tains prismatic or neeclleshaped
crystals
of aegil-jne,
equidimensional or euhedraJ coarse
crystals of nepheline, and large
areas of eudialyte as main constituents associated with variable
amounts of arf\'edsonitic amphibole
and tabular or lath-shaped crystals
of orthoclase. As accessory minerals, rinkite ("mosandrite"J). astrophyllite,
lamprophyllite
and
complex. titanium and zirconium
silicate minerals are commonly
observed. The photom icrographs
234
302
NEPHELINE SYENITE
Pedra Balao.
Por;os de Caldas.
MG. Brazil
Depth: 0.5 m
Retiporo-alteromorph
after nepheline
Objective: x 6.3
PPL
PART
3;
''I
.11
ALTER0l'10RPHS
I"
235
303
DIABASE
Ribeirao Preto,
SP, Brazil
Sampled at rock outcrop
Retiporo-alteromorph
after volcanic glass
Objective: x 4
PPL
06
0.4
0.2
- 0.0 mm
304
DIABASE
Ribeirao Preto,
SP, Brazil
Sampled at rock outcrop
Retiporo-alteromorph
after vesicular glass
Objective: x 6.3
PPL
r~
-
) . .,. ,
I
illus-
236
O.Omm
"PORO"-ALTEROMORPH
ISOLATED CRYSTALS
INTERSTITIAL VOIDS
BANDED TEXTURE
IRREGULAR BOXWORKS
l
BOTRYO-ALTEROMORPH
l
IRREGULAR SEPTOALTEROMORPH
l
GLOMERO-ALTEROMORPH
ISOLATED UNITS
INTERSTliAL VOIDS
BANDED TEXTURE
REGULAR BOXWORKS
AGGLOMERATED CRYSTALS
CONNECTED VUGHS
Irregular seplo-alleromorphs
mainly after fractured minerals
suchs as feldspars.
RegUlar septo-alleromorphs
mainly after cleaved minerals
such as pyroxenes
and amphiboles.
BOTRYOALTEROMORPH
REGULAR SEPTO-ALTEROMORPH
27.
Defmition' of aJterom(>rph, on the basis of rnicrotextural criteria: the cla'Sifkatioli of the "poro".alterornorphs
according to the distribution of the solid pbas
FIGUH
PAR1 ) : ALHROMOP.PHS
237
Botryo-aJruomr. rrll.-
PAIMARV MJ'~ERAi.
FIGURE
28.
BOTRYQ.ALrEROMORPH
develop within the empty pores of septo-alteromor-phs. It also develops by weathering of grains
of feldspa" which. by evolution of an intermediate
phase of homogeneous amorphous material, gives
rise to isolated subhedral microcrystals of kaolinite or glbbsite.These booklets of kaolinite and single crystals of gibbsite are regularly distributed in
the alteromorph.They are clustered in such a way
as to have between them small polyhedral interstitial "packing" voids.
The botryomorphic texture is highly porous, and
its internal pore-space i.5 interconnected. Near the
periphny 01' the alteromorph. the internal pore-space
is commonly directly connected with the fissurerelated pore-spaces of the alterite. It thus easily
becomes filled with materials of allochthonous origin.
During a later stage of infiUing by processes of absolute
accumulation, the characteristic internal structures of
the botTyo-alteromorphs may either become obscured
and even disappear. This wiJl happen where the
imported material has the sanle mineralogical composition as that of the receiving texture. 00 the other
hand, it may remain clearly distinguished if the material transferred has a different mineralogical composition, or if it exhibits a sufficiently distinct color or
microtextille. In this last case, the botryomorphic elements of the alteromorph may appear as a mosaic-like
assemblage of isolated crystals completely embedded
within the cumulomorphic part of the alteromorph.
Botryo-alteromorphs of gibbsite or kaolinite after
feldspar may possess a striking contrast if the voids are
filled w;th a hematite-rich deposit.
prima.!")' mineral.
Glom 'rv-cllteromorpl1'
This microtexture commonly develops during the weathering of small grains of iron-bearing
minerals such as olivine. pyroxene or garnet.
which form alteromorphs partly infilled with small
spherules of radiating needles of goethite. These
small spherules are generally closely spaced and in
mutual contact, and they delimit small triangular
interstitial voids (tetrahedral In three dimensions), with curved sides. This texture can also
238
cpto-a I tcmmol'phs
GLDMERo-ALTUlOMORPH
29.
Rdalionship or a glomcro-allcromorrh to a grain or
a primar)' mineral.
F1GURE
PRIMARY MINERAL
SEPTO-ALTEROMORPH
What\~\'er
fiGURE
30.
R~lationship
of d septo-alteTOll1orph [0 a grain of a
rlimar\, mi.n~ral.
Scpto-alteromorphs are cerrainly the most characteristic and the 1Il0st commonly encoWltcr~d alteromorphs, ('specially in lateritic isalterit~s. The layout of
the banded textures is influenced by the regular (cleavage and twin planes) and irregular discontinuitjes (fissures and cracks) that controlled lJ1e initial stage of
weathering of the primary minerals.
Tht' elementary septum is a partition, a small and
thin wall, formed by the regular distribution of secFor example, the weathering of feldspar
grains under ferrallitic conditions usually gives
rise to complex alteromorphs. On the one hand.
well-oriented crystals of gibbsite are regularly
juxtaposed to form septa whose organization
corresponds to the network of original fractures.
On the other hand, unoriented crystals of gibbsite
are clustered, leaVing empty vughs among them.
The formation of the gibbslte-bearing septa along
the original fractures always precedes the formation of the clusters of gibbsite formed at the
expense of the residuaJ remnants. Conse<juently. a
partly developed septo-alteromorph forms
before the agglomerated part. According to the
order of formation of the structur-al elements in
the finaJ alteromorph. for cases where all residues
are weathered, the order of the prefixes must be
written as glomero-septo-alteromorph, and not
as septo-glomero-alteromorph (see below, the
case of complex poro-alteromorphs).
PART
3 : ALTIROMOR.PHS
239
240
different levels of weathering. the interseptum porespace may be filled by later products of crystallization
or deposition of dissol ved constituents or material
transported over long cLstances (from higher horizons
or from upper parts of the landscape).
Depending upon the Ol-iginal network of fissures,
cracks, cleavages and other structurally imposed directions in the primary minerals, and in accordance \\ith
the previous c1assilkation of partly weathered minerals
(Stoops et al. 1979), boxwork textures can be
described as irregular or as regular septo-alteromorphs. It is ob\ious that even within the so-called
regular scpto-alteromorphs, the observed textures are
not always perfectly developed; many small accidents
may 10caJl)' interrupt their regularity. For example,
small interrupted septa may occur as branches on main
continuous septa or as isolated fragments (bridged in
the third dimension) within the polyhedral voids.
The combination of a regular cleavage and irregular
fTactures may promote the formation of complex
septo-alteromorphs (see below). The septa corresponding to fractures generally develop before those
developed along a cleavage.
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
identical secondary products on both sides of the- intermineral fissure. Wnere these peripheral rims and internal septa are incomplete or irregular, the original
boundaries between alteromorphs arc no longer clear,
and an area of several crxpw-sepw-alreromorphs is developed. These remarks apl)ly to all J..inds of sepro-alteromorphs.
This kind of irregular septo-alteroDlorph is commonly developed at the expense of olivine and garnet
and, in general, otller uncleaved or poorly cleaved but
fractured primal: minerals, such as the feldspars.
241
IF the feldspar is sun-aunded by a variety of m.i..nerals, thl:" regular or irregular septo-alteromorph that
dcvelol)s can easily he identified in thin section. In conmst, if feldspar crystals are abundant in the paTent
rock, the resulting septo-alteromorph.~ may well be
contiguous, with their incl.i\ridual outlines no longer
clear or identifiable; they arc then crJpw-sepro-alceromorphs or CTypta-a!al1lero-scpw-altrromarphs_
AlJ adjacent grains in a given area may consist of a
pyroxene or an amph:ibole.These may give rise to ironrich aJtcromorphs wbose secondary crystallites are all
weU olientcd parallel to the Z axh of each grain of primary mineral. The boundaries between alteromorphs
are expected to remain ident::ifiable because wlder
crossed pol.ars, complete extinction or transmission of
the different alteromorphs is not obtained simultaneously upon rotation of tile microscope stage. The
cryptomorphic pattern of the contiguous septo-alteromorphs appears clearly only under plane-polaI-ized
light, but it disappea.rs if the polarizers are nossed.
RPIIS
It is ol,,'ious that the textures observed within
altcromorphs are rarely simple and perfectly developed. Numerous combi.nations of elementary textures
242
can occur togetheT within the alteromorphs. This complexity can arise in a serendil)itous way, in which case
it occurs only locally in tlle thin section. In this
ins-tance, the complex texture is accidental, and its
description can be omitted. Complexity can also occur
either commonly, under sim.ilar conditions of weathering independent of the nature of the primary m.iner.lls,
or uniformly, in al temmorphs developed From the
same parent mineral. In these cases, the complex patterns observed in the alteromorphs are characteristic,
and a detailed description must be made. The most
common cases of complex alteromorphs (Fig. 31) are
described below.
Within a gi\'cn alteromorph, the networks of
cleavages and fractures together can inJluence the
development and orientation of tile septa. Within some
septo-alteromorphs, large areas of regtJarly organized
structure can be separated by one (or more) irregular
septum. If the irregular septum is formed at the
expense of a wide open fracture, it commonly appears
as a complex curved or Linear septum composed of two
distinct parallel and relatively thick layers of crystallites separated by a planar and empty median pore. This
pore corresponds to the opening of the fracture such as
it appeared during the first stage of weathering. The
more regular parts of the aJteromorph correspond to
the traces of tbe cleavages developed within the unfractured parts of the primary mineral. The resulting
altcromorph is an irrcBu]ar-re8u]ar-sepw-a!cerornorph.
This seems to be the simplest case of a complex alteromorph.
In altcromorphs developed From feldspars under
conditions of ferraIJitic weatllering, the First-Formed
crystals of gibbsite regularly follow the nen-vorb of
cleavages auel fractures. They are arranged in banded
tcxtures of relatively constant thickness, which surrOWld cavernous Feldspathic residues. During a Further
stage of weathering, the progressive disappearance of
these residues does not result in tbe thickening of the
first-formed septa, but in the development of irregular
aggregates of gibbsite crystals. The peri.nuclear pores,
until now regular and of constant thickness, are CODverted into large irregular vughs. In the final stage of
weathering, the alteTomorph shows an intimate combination of two distillct microtextural patterns: thin
septa, containing a double layer of vvell-oriented single
crystals, constitute the elements of an embryonic septomorphic texture whose development was interrupted in fuvor of volumes i.u which a glomcromorphic
textme is progressively developed. This last textme,
located between the se.pta of the first generation, is
composed of aggregates of randomly oriented C1ystals
of gibbsite associated \\ith large irregular pores, both
PRIMARY MINERAL
BOTRYO-ALTEROMORPH
SEPTO-ALTEROMORPH
COMBINED PATTERNS
BOTRYO-SEPTO-ALTEROMORPH
GLOMERO-ALTEROMORPH
COMBINED PATTERNS
GLOMEROSEPT0-ALTEROMORPH
31. D~fUlifions of alteromorphs on the basis of mic'Totextural criteria: the classification of complex alreromorphs.
First example: the \\"ealhcring of a feldspar-group miner"J le.>
gibbsite. Weathering occurs aCf:orJ.i.ng 1'0 three basic patterns.
FIGURE
PART
3 : AlTEROMORPHS
243
formed during the final stage of weathering. The complex altcrODJ0rph that shows the association and the
intercolUJcction of these t\\'o types of elementary textures is a s/omero-sepro-uherolllorph.
The later evolution of some retipoTL1-alteromorphs. which arc composed of a weatherable
isotropic material, divided b} a continuously retjcular
nenvork of pores, can k3d to the development of
glomero-alteromorphs and septo-alteromorphs of a
[)articular pattern. Indeed, each elementary polyhedral
'-olumc isolated by the reticular nen~ork of IISSUl-CS can
later be \"eathered to gibbsitc. These crystals of gibbsire either define a concentric banded textw-e, owing to
the peripheral and centripetal weathering of these volwnes, or are arranged in irregula.r glomcrornorphic
textures, where weathering proceeds in a more disorderly fashion (Fig. 32).
244
or
COMPLEX ALTEROMORPHS
PRIMARY MINERAL
RETIPORO-ALTEROMORPH
ABSOLUTE ACCUMULATION
EVOLUTION TO GIBBSITE
COMBINED
PATTERNS
META-ALVEO-RETIPOROALTEROMORPH
CUMULO-RETIPOROALTEROMORPH
META-ALVEO-CUMULO-RETJPOROALTEROMORPH
32,
DefinitiDn' of ,Iterornorphs 011 the hasi, 01 microtextilral LTiteria: the c1JssillcaLion
complex alternmorphs.
Sccond cxample: the weathering of nephelinc to gibbsi.tl. l';a
all isotropic intermediate' ph"F (,hl)wn ill yellow). Weather
ing may invoh't' absolutc accumulation or transformation to
gi"bsil~, or both.
fiGURE
or
PART 3 ;
ALTEROMORPH\
245
30S
HVPERSTHENE-BEARlNG
GRANITIC ROCK
Zangouine. Man,
Western Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 2.75 m
Botryo-alteromorph
developed
after plagioclase
Objective: x 10
XPL
:- 0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
306
BASALTIC ROCK
0.0 mm
I
I
I
,in
XPL, show~ the typical texture
of a botryo-alteromorph ill which
smaU crystals of kaolinite are rcs'l.llarly disb'ibuted and randomly oriented. Each individual crystal L'
separated from it, neighbors by
isotropic material which, in this
case, is the artificial material used
for impregnation. Normally, in the
untreated sample. the kaolinitc
crystals are nearly isolated From
each other or stackeu side by side,
leaving between them small interstitial interconnected \'oids mor-
246
307
GRANITIC ROCK
BR 158. Brazil
Depth: 2.5 m
Sampled by F. Soubies
Glomero-alteromorphs
developed
after feldspar
Objective: x I 0
XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
T.
t
' . i I
I
grains of
feldspar have been completely
weathered to gibbs.ite. The origiJ131
contact between them is marked bv
a discontinuous alignment of quartz
of primary origin, and mainly by a
major d.ifference in orientation of
the crystalliplasmas within each of
the altel'omorphs. The gibbsite crystals are arranged paraUeI to the
cleavages of the original grains,
which are oriented more or less
perpendicular to each other. A septomorphic texture is not clearly
obsencd. Large irregular vughs are
PART
3 : A1.JEROMORPHS
247
il
308
CHARNOCKITIC ROCK
Summit (I 000 m) of
Tonkoui Mountain.
Western Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.6 m
Partially developed
septo-alteromorph
after plagioclase
Objective: x 10
XPL
0.2
0.1
=-
0.0 mm
309
GABBRO
Bondoukou area.
Eastern Cote d'lvoire
Sampled at rock outcrop
Partially developed
septo-alteromorph
after plagioclase
Objective: x 10
XPL
I' t
I I
shown in
both photomicrographs are
very similar and characteristic of
the first steps in the felTallitic
weathering of plagioclase. The crystah are broken by irregular lransmineral fi-actures and transverse
cracks, along which weathering of
the primary mineral has started.
The first fissures are stiU recognizable as thin brov\-'nish lineaments
that run in the median planes of the
septa, renecting a slight influx of
iron. The most important septa
originated from the fra(tllres, but
248
3 10, 3 I I
GARNET-BEARING
MICA SCHIST
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
mm
I. I. 1 1 . '
.
of most
metamorphic rocks are characterized by numerous irregular
cracks whose reticular pattero
diviJt"s the mineral into many cootiguous fragments. These photomicrograpbs .~how a crystal of garnet
that is highly fractured, with
nwnerolls radially distributed fractures, aJong which the weathering
of the mineral has started according
to an irregular linear pattero of
weathering. Oxyhydroxides of iron
fonn irregular septa whose thickness is bierarcbized; thinner and
thinner new septa are formed grael-
PMT 3 : ALTEROMORPHS
249
3 12, 313
CHARNOCKITIC ROCK
Summit (I 000 m) of
Tonkoui Mountain,
Western Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.6 m
Partially developed
septo-alteromorph
after c1inopyroxene
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
:-- 0 I
0.0 mm
250
or
ll4
CAlC-AlKALlNE
GRANITE
0.2
0.0 mm
liS
CAlC-AlKALlNE
GRANITE
BR 158. Brazil
Sampled by F. Soubles
Depth: 3.4 m
Regular
septo-alteromorph
after hornblende
Objective: x 10
PPL
II~'
ill
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
11,
1'1
251
316,317
AMPHIBOllTE
Bereby.
Southwestern Cote
d'lvoire
Sampled by A. Perraud
Depth: unknown
Regular septoalteromorph after
amphibole (actinolite)
Objective: x 6,3
PPL and XPL
I.
show
252
0.3
0.2
=-
0.1
O.Omm
318, 119
CHARNOCKITE
Summit (I 000 m) of
Tonkoui Mountain.
Western Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.6 m
Regular septoalteromorph
after amphibole
Objective: x I 0
PPL and XPL
::- 0.1
0.0 mm
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
or
253
320,32.
CHARNOCKITE
Summit (I 000 m) of
Tonkoui Mountain,
Western C6te d'lvoire
Depth: 0.6 m
Regular
septo-alteromorph
after pyroxene
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
I I1
shows
another example of a mineral
grain that is convenientl)' orjented
to illustrate the regularity of distribution and the pattern of orientation of its residual septa. The scpta
intersect at aJl angle 01' approximately 90, which allows the !Jarcnt
mineral ai' the <lltl'rornorph to he
determined: it is not an amlJhibolc,
as in the pre\ious illustrations, but a
p)TOXene. \Vhicbner the original
ferromagncsian mineral, the main
textural and optical characteristics
of the altcrornorphs formed are
254
311,313,314
GABBRO
Bereby.
Southwestern
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by A. Pen-aud
Depth: unknown
Cumulo-septo-aJteromorph. "acantho-alteromorph" after pyroxene
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
=- 0.0 mm
I' \1 I' 1 1
1 Or pyroxene
has been weathered to goethite,
giVing rise to a double septo-;JllerOmorph whose residual pores have.
been later infillcd by erystallaria or
gibbsite of allochthonous origin.
The cleavages, and consequently the
septJ, of the two parts of the
twi.nned crystal are symmetrically
distributed, which gives ,-ise to an
"acanlho-septo-alteromorph" ("flshbone" pattern). The seconrl illustration, in XPL, shows that hoth
PART
3 : ALWl,OMORPH5
or
255
325
AMPHIBOLITE
Bereby,
Southwestern
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by A. Perraud
Depth: unknown
Complex septo-alteromorph
(cleavages + twins)
after amphibole
Objective: x 6.3
PPL
~ 0.3
256
i
_
0_2
0.1
0.0 mm
326
CHARNOCKITE
Summit (I 000 m) of
Tonkoui Mountain,
Western Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.6 m
Glomero-septoalteromorph
aher feldspar
Objective: x 10
XPL
0.2
0.0 mm
327
GABBRO
Bondoukou area,
Eastern Cote d'lvoire
Sampled at outcrop
Botryo-septoalteromorph
aher feldspar
Objective: x 10
XPL
IIII
11
"
PART
3:
AlTEROMORPHS
257
CI-IIIPTER
to
different
Polyseneti, aILemmo/"ph -
PRIMARY MINERAL
I-----I~---I
SEVERAL SECONDARY
SEVERAL SECONDARY
MINERALS FORMED
SUCCESSIVELY DURING
TWO DIFFERENT EPISODES
I
FIRST STEP: PARTIAL ALTERATION
OR WEATHERING TO SECONDARY
MINERAL, LEAVING RESIDUES OF
THE PRIMARY MINERAL
PARTIAL MONOGENETIC
AlTEROMORPH
I
SECOND STEP: ALTERATION OR
WEATHERING OF THE RESIDUES
TO DIFFERENT SECONDARY
MINERALS
FIGURE 33.
SIMULTANEOUS POLYPHASE
POROUS AlTEROMORPH
OR
POlYGENETIC AlTEROMORPH
GRADUAL POLYPHASE
AlTEROMORPH
CUMULO-AlTEROMORPH
260
morphs with less developed ones, in which residual areas of pyroxene are still associated with the
hornblende inclusions, to properly interpret the
process of development of both secondary products (smeetite and amphibole).
PRIMARY MINERAL -+ PRODuCT OF
FlRST PHASE OF ALTEAAT"fON
PO\.YGEN~C AllEAOMOAPH
34.
RclJlI"n.~hip "r 0 p"ll'g"n{'tic olt~rnm{Jrrh to a groin
or a priman mincral afrt:,tl'c1 hy" lir't rha'" or ,Iterati"n.
FIGURE
PART
3 : ALTffiOMORPHS
In contrast, some po\yg<.>netic alteromorphs provide. either by their mineral content or hy their
microstructure, an additional source of informatiun,
not only about their origin. but also al>out the primary
minerals frum which the <tlteromorphs dc\'C1ol)cd,
Thus, in a mOllZonite or calc-alkaline granite, all grains
of feldspar mOl} have been weathered to kaolinite; UH:re
is no possibi.lity of clearly distingujshing the origin of
the alteromorphs, either by their shape. their color, or
internal microtcxture. All these similar alteromorphs,
with poorly identillabk- boundaries because all have the
same secondary constitucnts, arc assoc..iated in such a
way that they form a group of crypto-altcromoTphs.
Mol',:, det.ailed a.nd accurate observatjons may show t.hat
some alteromorphs contain inclusions of epidote.
mainly in their central parts, whereas other :dteromorphs do not. The first alteromorphs are prohably
dev~I()ped from plagioclase, whereas the inclusion-free
altcromorphs are probably UC\'c!oped from microcli.ne
or orthociJsc,
Another example is given by crypto-alteromorphs
simultaneously developed at the expense of adjacent
crystals of olivine and orthopyroxene (Fig. 18C). Bod\
altCTomorphs have a ;mo.:ctitic composition, but the
occurrence or the lack of a symplccLitic micrOSb'ucture or or"idJingsite" will aIIO\\, one to determine the
primary mineral from which a given alterolllorph has
developed; olivinc ooes not contain symplcctik, but
can shc)\\. !)artial transrurmation to "idc:lingsite",
whereas orthopyroxene may contain symplect.ite, hut
ne\'er contains "iddingsite". In some cases, thc distinction betwee.n the two aJtcromorphs is more difficult
where both types of alterornorpbs. after olivine and
ort!Jopyruxen..:, are weathered to vcr)' similar smcctitc-group minerals (Fig. ISA). Only the diHerence in
orientation allows onc to disti.nguish their' origin.
SmecUte particles after olivinc are \'ery small .md random
oriented, whereas smectite particles after
orthopyroxene arc larger and oriented parallel to the L
axis of the primary mineral.
I:
261
B~~~
0 1 2
FIGURE
A.
0,
I:
2:
3:
4
35.
EVOLUTIOCJ
or
T'OLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPH5.
Note: The I\rstformecl ba.nded textw-e can be considerecl as a pan.!} clevd0ped two phase alteromorph since lWO seconrury minerals (serpentine, m-.lgnetite) are formed togetl"'r at the expense of the olivinc. In this ro1ygenetic alteromorph, the first stage gives a t\l'Ophase alreromorph, and the second stage, a single-phase. one.
B.
0:
I:
2:
3:
4:
Not.:: This polyg.:netic alteromorph is .,usccptible to further modillQtion: gibbsite may crystallize at tJ,e expense of the isotropic plcase.
and gibb.,ite anJ goerhite, In porous aBse.mblag.:s, may form at the expense of the epidote inclusions. The polygenetic and polyphas.:
aspects of the complde aJteromorph remain perfectly recognizable.
C.
0:
I:
2:
3:
4:
Note: All the inclusions of hornhl.:nde are optically OrienlNI. and tJleir coarsely d.:nticulate 'hap s can simulate residues of the mineral that
ha.> given riSt' to the oriented ,'n.:ctite. In tJ,is e:xampk, hornhJend~ is not the par<:nt mat.:rial of the secondary smectitc. Without
access to the less advanced stages, the identiJkation of the true' process provides a major challenge.
262
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
328,329
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
PART
"I 1\ 1
1:\
3 ; ALTEROMORPHS
I 11
263
POLYGENETlC ALTEROMORPHS
llO, III
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
-- 0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I .11 '! I
wi lh Ule preceding
illustrations, these photomiLTographs show the result or a very
similar but somewhat more complex process of transformation 01' an
olivine grain according to two successive stages. The additional complexity lies in tht~ fact that the first
stage of alteration gives rise to a
partial polyphase alteromorph with
two d.istinct secondary minerals.
The alteration front penetTates the
oliv'ine crvstal
aJonoCo transmineral
,
fractures, and gives rise to serpentine-group minerals, with concomi-
264
XPL.
POLYGENETlC ALTEROMORPHS
332,333
OUVINE-BEARlNG
CUNOPYROXENITE
0.3
0.0 mm
I 11 ,
11'
illus-
PART
3 : ALTEROMORPHS
265
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
334,335
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
06
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
266
or
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
336,337
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
1"'11'111.
takcn from the same thin section as the previous ones, are
included to better show the dctails
of the distribution of nontronite and
talc, and to better distinguish the
colorless rim of talc associated with
magnetite lineament.~ (both features
resulting From the intluence of' a
late-magmatic hydrothermal alteration) from the green nontronitc,
formed by more recent weathering
of the hypersthcne grains that had
not pre\iously been replaced by
PART 3:
ALTEROMORPHS
talc. Some minute dentiCl.Jiate remnants of hypersthene are still distinguishable at C't, whereas most of
the other orthopyroxenc grains
have completely disappeared, giving
risc to small centTo-ah'eoporoalteromorphs. Note that the talc
particles of the ,-illl arc randomly
oriented, whereas the smectile par
ticle~, whose denticulations arc
related to the denticulations of the
consumed residues of I)yroxene, are
regularly ol-iented, in each alveoporo-alteromorph, according to th("
267
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
338,339
PERIDOTITE
Jacuplranga,
SP, Brazil
Depth: 2.2 m
Sampled by
S.M.B. de Oliveira
Polygenetic alteromorph
after olivine
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
-:- 0.2
0.1
of hypogcm'
alteration, most of the olivine
ha.~ been replaced b)' a banded textl.lre involving scr[)cntine-grol1[)
millerals, maintaining large earl'S of
primar'y olivine.Thc banded texture
forms an irregular reticulate and
intcrconnecterJ oetwork whose
thickness is largl'ly hierarchizcd.
The longest bands of serpeJ1tine
exhibit a greater thickn<:,~~ th,1I1 the
shortest ones, whereas the olivinc
residucs all ha\e a comparable volume. The serpentine-group miner-
268
0,0 mm
or
POLYGENETlC ALTEROMORPHS
340,341
SERPENTINlZED
PERIDOTITE
Biankouma.. Sipilou,
Western Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by Y. Noack
Polygenetic alteromorph
after olivine
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
0.1
~ 0.0 mm
PART
3 : ALTERmlORPH5
269
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
342,343
WEATHERED BASALTIC
ROCK
Island of Mauritius
Sampled by VTargulian
Polygenetk alteromorph
after olivine
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0,2
0,1
0,0 mm
I I\
I '
I has been
partiall)' altered to "iddingsite"
during a late dellteric process, The
"iddingsitc" rim is brownish red in
PPL, and brightl)' colored in shades
01" yellow and orange in XPL During a later step 01" weathering, which
is also responsible for the weathering of the basaltic groundmass, the
o!ivinc corc has been completely
weathered to hydrated oxides of
iron which, in PPL, appear as a dark
brown boxwork with numerous
empty pores. Most of the septa
appear, under XPL, as micro-aggre-
1.
270
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
344,345
WEATHERED OLlVINEBEARING PYROXENITE
0.3
0.2
0.1
~ 0.0 mm
t\
1II
I I"
I, of o)ivinc
,ri.has been replaced by a polygcnctic alteromorph. During a t1rst
stage ofb)'l)ogene alteration, a small
part of the mineral has been
replaced hy yellow saponite (A-BS,
D-E4-), which has penetrated the
mineral over short cLstances along
the proloclastic fractures. During a
later stage of weathering, under
PARr
3 : ALT<ROMORPHI
271
POLYGENETlC ALTEROMORPHS
:146
OLIVINE-BEARING
CLINOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I
of olivine
has been completely "eplaced
by a holo-.llteromol'ph of "iddings
ite" under the intluence of a latemagmatic process. Observations of
the neighbori..l1g affected areas
(beyond the thin section) indicate
that the volumes of the primary
mineral and of its a]teromorph arc
similar, aml that no deformation has
taken place during this first transformation; an iso-alteromorph
results. The position of extinction
and the interference-color, under
XPL (not shown) arc homogeneous
throughout the entire alteromorph,
272
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
347,348
OLlVlNE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.3
0.2
-0.1
0.0 mm
of hypogene aher1
ation has cOl11lJletcly replaced
an olhine grain to a symplectitic
intergrowth composed of orrhopyroxene (h)lpcrsthene) and irregularlv
distributed
vermicular
magnetite. During a later stage of
low-grade hydrothermal alteration,
the surrounding crystals of phlogopite have been replaced bv rncsoalteromorphs
of
vermiclllitc,
without modification of tbe neigh
boring grains of O!-t1\Opyl'Oxene aml
c1inopyroxene. During a more
11
PART
! I
3: ALTEROMORPHS
ur
273
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
349,350
IRON-ENRICHED
DURICRUST
DEVELOPED ON
OLIVINE8EARING
CLINOPYROXENITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
11
I'
1'1
show
another example or a grain or
oLivine that has been replaced by a
symplectitic
intergrowth
of
orthopyroxcne and lamellae of
magnetite. Contrary to the pre\ious
photographs, a large core or oJivine
has been maintained in the central
part of the symplcctitic intergrowth. Later, dming a low-grade
hydrothermal phase, the olivine
core has been completely replaced
by sapooitc (sce 389, 390) without
modification of the syrnplectitic
texture or the chemical composi-
274
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
351,351
THICK SOIL
DEVELOPED ON
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
I.
I 'f
1.1
t
show
a residual sj"mplectitic texture,
from which only the shape of the
vermicular intergro\vths has been
preserved. The magnetite of tbe
lamellae has been converted to
hematitC' (dark red coloration in
XPL, with full power), whereas the
onhopyroxene component has been
replaced by reddish alveoporoalteromorphs of coJored residual
k.aolillite, itself a product of degradation of previously formed oontronite (as it can be ascertained in
PART
3 : AlTEROMORPHS
275
POLYGENETIC ALTEROMORPHS
353
GRANITIC ROCK
0.6
04
-
0.2
- 0.0 mm
354
GRANITIC ROCK
BR I 63, Brazil
Sampled by F. Soubies
Depth: unknown
Example of a "signature":
residual quartz
in the granophyric
texture
Objective: x 6.3
XPL
0.3
~ 0.2
_
0.1
~ 0.0
shows
t.I1e mynnckile texture, which
('om01onl), develops in the contact
area between plagiocla..: and albli
fCldspar. The mynnekite texture is
composed of "ermicubr inclusions
of qUdrtz within sodic plagioc!dse.
The internal organization of the
myrmekite texture is comparable to
the pre"iously shown s)'ml1lectitic
texture. When subjected lO weathering processes, th~~ highly resistant
inclusions of (Iuartz md)' be maintained unw('.athered , like the maonetitC" intergrowths in IJrevious
~
276
mm
The resulting altcromorphs archighly porous (mainly glomeroaJtl'nmlOrphsJ, but in spite of this
high IJomsit)'- the original distribution and OIientation of all the vcrmicular inclusions of quar'''' h,}n~
been perkctly maintained, as shown
by t.I1eiJ homogeneous interferencecolors in XPL.
Po{\phase a/ecTOmorphs
POlYPhaSe al!eromorphs are formed during a single stage of hypogene alteration or of supergene
weathering; they are thus monogenetic alteromorphs. On the other hand. the result consists of
an association of two or more secondary minerals owing
to
development of two or more successive and distinct secondary phases. which will persist in the
same alteromorph.
36.
:\. Relationship of .1 simultan('ousl\' devcloped
polvphasc alteromorl'h, ,l.' Juring (,-,olution. to " grain 01' a
a gr.lduall) dc\'vl0l'cd
primar:, min"Tal. B. Rclaliomlup
polypbax ,uleromorl'h lo a grain of' a prima,)' mineral.
FIGURe
or
The ncoformecl products arc not randomly dislTibuted within the polyphase aJteromorph, bUl they
exh.ibit an organized, hierarchical texture. One of the
two secondary products is im'ariabJy located close to
the remnants of the primary mincra.I, whereas the
other sl'condary pha;;e is morc distant, a.nd separated
from thest' n:mnants b_\' the first one. Both hYlx)gelle
and supergene processes can promote such polyphase
altnnmorphs.
Examples of composite polyphase altcromoq)hs of
hypogcne origin include the association or two neoformed minerals as a result of ,In exsolution process
(Fig. 37).
PMT
3;
AlTEROMORPHS
277
CJ 0
.f... ...,,
",
: ., . " \
e;
"
.'
. . ,IQ
( ....
I."
FIGURE
37.
A.
Two concomitant but separate minerals developed during a process of gradual alteration
0:
I:
incipient pellicular ancllincilr ~lt('raLion to tak associated with ",1<111 amOUrlt' or maglletite;
2:
3:
talc Ill\,; the major part uf the odginal \'olume, wh"'Ta, magnetite im'adc.s thc surrounding open intermint'ral rrao.:tur~s;
complete "Iteration
ID
CC'
inne-r dc"min 1)1' tak and mainly' external (kpo~jls l)f magneLite: TWOPHASE ECH1NOALTEROMORPH.
Note: If the original orthop.\TOX.;ne does not cautain iron, no n"gnctilc b formed, but part or the talc can in\"ade Lhc surrounding illkrmin~ral fractures b"callSc the altc'ration is not slTinl)' i;;o\'olumetric, It generates' snull increase in volume as a re-sull or opening
and infllling or inlt:rnlincraJ fractures, A (single'ph"d echinn'alterornorph develops,
B,
Three secondary minerals (one is optional) developed during a process of gradual alteration
0:
crystal "I' orLhop~Toxene completely I'ep)"ced Il\' an assnci,tion of laic aDd magnetite (Fig. 8, .'1.4);
2:
more advanced stage QC .llteration: prislll' or .llllphibole de,-dop at the I;xpense or the laic;
3:
more and more l)rol rudillg I)risms "I' amphihale ,lre formed, whereos th~ rdaliVt' prol,ortion or talc decrLase:;;
+:
;\iote: The next stage of alteration will nu long"r show talc; oni)' tremoUte or eummingtonite are associatetl with the seconuar\, l11aglleLite,
All these succes;j\,c ,tages do not necessarily appCJr during the alteration or the SJme ori&>iml mineral gr~in, as the relatin: dl~"el
opment of "-lcb of lhese st;]gcs Jepenrls on the local intensity 01' the hydmthernlill proce"s,
condition~ of superficial
C-
o:
crystal or hornblende exhibiting ane set or c1ea"'ge plane; and irregular Fractures;
weathering
I,
incipient linear and pellicular weathering to g(>l'thi(,~ along part of the open c1eav'ges and boundaries;
l-
111arr. ,dvaneed weathering along c1"'\,'ge;; 'llld rr.lCl'UreS, and deye!opme.r,l or circum-nodw.ll' residual "oids;
3:
fe\\ minUI e denticulate residue,' isolated \lilhin large residuol voids, and d. vclopment or crl'stals or se.condary gibbsire;
-t:
Note: Gib!>site cl'ystals de,~lop wht:r~ the aluminum cOllteot or tht' original hornblende is not rull)' .lCtommadated by the early' I'ormarian
nf alumini;]n gaetllit.e; discrete gibbsite rorms from the remJining part of rhe aluminum, Wh,'re tbe ;]Iuminum COnl('nt or the amphi.
bole is lower, "luminian goelhjte i, formed only, and nu cl'yst.I, of gibbsile ,re ,'isibk il' the aJteramorph,
278
.1
or
morph
supergene origin. with Jen']opment of an
unslable (isotrnpic or not) intcrl1lc,djate ph<lse, is provided by th<: graduall)olrpha$c alteron101'1>!t (Fig. 38).
THE COMPLEX PATTERN OF WEATHERING
OF PLAGIOCLASE
PMT
3 : ALTEl\OMQRPHS
appear without any discernible trace of secondary produces, or if the original feldspar did not
contain such inclusions. a monophase alteromorph
results, composed of kaolinite only. The alteromorph is successively composed of (PI + IM), (PI
+ IM + Kin), (IM + Kin), and finally (Kin). If the
inclusions of epidote (Ep) are later weathered to
iron oxyhydroxides (oxFe). the successive alteromorphs consist of (PI + Ep), (PI + IM + Ep). (PI +
IM + Kin + Ep), (IM + Kin + Ep). (Kin + Ep). and
(Kin + oxFe).ln this last case. the resulting alteromorph is polypha.se. because it contains two distinct minerals, but it is finally turned into a
monogenetic alteromorph because both secondary minerals (Kin and oxFe) were developed
during the same long and continuous period of
time. under conditions of superficial weathering.
Similar processes occur where grains of plagioclase are weathered to gibbsite through an
intermediate isotropic phase (Fig. 38B). The
weathering develops much more qUickly than in
the previous examples. in such a way that the
first-formed crystals of gibbsite are aligned on
both sides of the fractures, whereas they are separated from the residual cores of feldspar only by
the thin rim of isotropic secondary material. This
first distribution of gibbsite crystals gives rise to a
partly developed septo-alteromorph. Within
more evolved alteromorphs, the isotropic mater
ial extends inward to the center of each residual
core. which finally disappears. The earlier-formed
rims of isotropic materiaj are now converted to
irregular a.ssemblages of gibbsite crystals. Where
the replacements are complete, the polyphase
alteromorph is convel'ted to a monophase complex glomero-septo-alteromorph.
Pol)'j)h<l.Sl: alteromorphs a.lso may ckvclop where
weathering reaninns proceed at J sJO\\ rate on relativelv coarse crvstak A long period or time is neces
sarI'~ 'tu cOIllple~e the lI"eath;rino
or the grain. Durine:
b
~
this time intenal, conditions of weathering can
lx'come f>]'ogressi"ely mollified in such a W.:lY that the
last-formcd secondar)' products are no longer identical
to the flrsl-fornlccI secondary products. A first rJartial
weathering to a srnectite-group mincr.:ll, for example,
Illay be folluwed bv a second stage of weathering of the
residuL'S to iron h)'druxide. Alt10ugh both scZonclary
products are formed from the same mineral gr(ljn, the
resulting aJterumorph ma)' he cunsidered to be a COIllposite alternmorph (Fig. 38C).
279
FIGlIllE
l8.
E\'OI.lITI(lN
(IT
A.
0:
,1.oh,d1'31 cl'}S!JI of pJagiocla.<c cxh.ibiting fe" 'TguiJr c1e''''ilge, and irl-egular transverse Fr,lclurC's;
\.
,.
rt:gl.lar - irregular ban,kd pattern and cuntinuous isotropic' pha,c with C.lvernous residual
3:
all l'\',iducs of rh~ primary mineral hav(' di,app('ared when the first hooklet> of kalllinite are formed;
4-:
more' cHstab of kaolinite dcvelop a{ {he ~xpen,(' of the isotropic pha,e: TWOPHASE (GRADUAL) /\LTEROMORPH.
('Oft'S;
Note: Undn condition.< of normal or re,o'icted !e;Jch.ing, reldspar.group miuer,!.' are preferentially \\'<'ather"d te) bolinite after tIll' dc",I
the alteroffiorph hdore the appearance of the !lr$tfoTll1cd
o}lllwnt of an internwdiatl' isotl'f)pic I)hao"" whid, extc,ncLs OWl' most
cry,tals of kaolinite. Kaolinite "J1<.1 r('sidues of kld$p"r are r~rel)' oh"en'cd together in the' alterolllorph'.
ur
B.
0:
anhedr<)1 ('[")"st,,1
or plagioda~e
pha~
I:
patch,,, of isorwpic >l'cvndJry m.llerial dcvelop along P3rt of the' deil\'ages '1nd I'ratture$;
2:
3:
LTySl.ab of gihhsiL<' d"'Tlop according to linear ond banded partl'm" where minute re~idu"s of plagioclasc still pasisr;
+:
P,1l't "I' uw i,,-,tropic tnateri<t! is replaced hy gihh,ir" and rcsidual void.<: GLOlvlEROSEPTO,ALTEROMORPH,
COI'('S;
Nor,,: Undcr cDnditi"n, of stTDng 1"Jelling, crystlb of gibbsitc qu.iekl; develop at the eXf)"nsc of the most strongly I.::al'hl'd (fintformed)
p"rts of the inkrn",diate isotropic phase, which rna)' still conLain re,ic!ue, or relJ.spar. Thre phdses ,re ob.>er,ed together before the'
'llten)!I1ol'ph i., colllplerdy deve!<.llwd. A lwophase "Iteromorph cvolves into d single'l,h."c alteromorph.
C.
U:
I:
2:
I'uru",r dl'vdopment into a handed pRtlcrn "long fracrur(.$ and denticulate cores ori,'nled par"lld to
3:
+:
gocthite and ""idual "oids replace the resielues anel.sm,<:titc is ,lowl; de.graded: ALVEOP(JROALTER01\10RPH.
\{l
U1C
tJ,,, cleavages;
Not,: Within the nearsurla,,, weathering horizons, in which condiljom of drainage promote th" destruct.ion of the Iirslformcd smectitc
and i15 replan'menl hv iron ox\'h)'droxidcs, the nrstformed orU\o.a!teoporo-alt.,'rol11Cirph is slowly com'crred to a para.ahcoporo.
ahcmmorph, in which more collnded pores dre J",vclop"d. rdthcr than the charact,~ristic alvcolar pores.
280
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
355,356
BASALTIC ROCK
BR 163. Brazil
Sampled by F. Soubies
at rock outcrop
Polyphase pseudo morph
after olivine
Objective: x 10
:- 0.2
0.1
O.Omm
Illllll
of
PAR.T
3:
AlHItOMORPfiS
281
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
357,358
BASALTIC ROCK
Ocean floor
Costa Rica Rift
Leg 70. site 504b
Sampled by C. Laverne
Concentric distribution in
a polyphase alteromorph
after olivine
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
=-
0.2
0.1
282
atcd with yery small grains of magnetite. As can be seen under XPL,
both quart~ and chlorite are randomly oriented, without any spccilk relationship to the orientation
of the original oli,-ine. The Jeep
blue interference-calor of the chlorite is characteristic of the penllinite
0.0 mm
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
359,360
HORNBL.ENDE-RICH
CL.lNOPYROXENITE
r:
0.0 mm
ill 1\
'I'. '11 I I. \\
alterat.ion or
this subhedral crystal 01 relati\ely caJcic plagioclase (Iabradorite) has given rise to an
association or two distinct secondary minerals. Epidote and cUnozoisite, dearly distinguishable in
XPL by their high interference-colors (common epidote) or by their
abnormal blue and yellow interference-co]ors (dino7..oisite), are concentrically d.istributed as a rim in
contact with the other neighboring
minerals (hornblende, magnetite
PART
3:
ALToRoMORPHS
or
283
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
361,362
ORTHOPYROXENEBEARING
CLINOPYROXENITE
a polyphase alteromorph
after hypersthene
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
:- 0.1
.:..... 0.0
284
mill
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
363,364
ORTHOPYROXENEBEARING
CUNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I
of hydrothermal process is reached, the proportion of taJc in the polypha:;e
altcromorph (see 361, 362) I)rogressi velv decreases and finallv dis~
appear~, to give an altcromorph that
consists only 01" amphibok of the
tremolit.e - actinolite series and
magnetite. The photomicrographs
show thc regular Jistrihution of the
acicular domains of' tremolitic or
actinolitic amplUbule, whose orientat.ion is p.arallel to the Z axis of the
original orthopyroxene cr)~tal.
-
PART
3:
AtTEROMORPHI
285
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
365,366
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLINOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
after
olivine has been formed by
hydrothermal alteration along a
transmineral fracture. Owing to the
low grade of hydrothermal alteration, the distributjon of the secondary products is 1\ot uneven; it
strongly depends on the distance
that separates a point from the fracture along which the hydrothermal
fluids penetr<lte the mineral. Most
of the <llteromorph is composed of
talc, associated with minute grains
of magnetite. At short dist.ances
286
or
the fracture
along both sidt~S
plane, where higher-temperature
conditions were reached, the
olivine was replaced by colorless
tremolitic amphiboJe. In the thin
section from which these photomicrographs were taken, all oli\1nc
cryst<lls are altered to talc, and the
amphibolc only appears within the
alteromorphs that are crossed by
the fractures. This case provides a
good example of a polyphase <llteromorph in which the linear distribution of the secondar;' products is
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
167, 368
OUVlNE-BEARING
CUNOPYROXENITE
0,6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
'
olivine
A has been completely replaced
III I
1,1 Or
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPHS
or
287
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
369,370
OUVINE-BEARING
CUNOPYROXENITE
Cote d'!voire
Depth: 10.2 m
Koua Bocca,
Random distribution in
a polyphase alteromorph
after olivine
ObjeCLive: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
O.3
0.2
0.1
has been
replaccJ by a polyphase alteromorph in which bOtJl tremolite and
saporute are randomly distributed
and randomly oriented. The colorless prismatic crystals or tremolite
contain the Si and Mg directly
inhCI'itcd from the original olivine,
whereas the Ca comes from the
neighboring diopside or augite. The
dinopyroxelll: also has been altered
to a secondar)' amphibole, which
determines the disappearance or the
original intermineral margins in this
288
0.0 mm
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
371,372
BASALTIC ROCK
Ocean floor.
Costa Rica Rift
Leg 70, site S04b
Sampled by C. Laverne
Random distribution In
a polyphase alteromorph
after olivine
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I . Ij
I I
Il,
of a postmagmatic process, an olhine
crystal has been completely altered
to a polyphase alterolTIorph of chlo-
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPHS
289
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
373,374
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
11
ha5 been
completely weathered to nOIltronite associated wit.h hydrated
oxides of iron along its intramineral
protoclastic fractures. As in earlier
photomicrographs, t.he secondary
products RI I the whole volwne of
the original grain of oLivine (holoalteromOl-ph), without appearance
of intramineral residual pores (at
least at the scale observable ,,-ith the
optical microscope). Note that the
network of original protoc!astic
fractures is clearly recoonjzablc
in
b
J
290
the alteromorph, but that the original deposits of magnetite are now
oxidized to brownish secondary
products. The apparently variable
thickness of these products is due to
variations of the orientation of the
fractures \o\ith respeer to the plane
of the thin section. Note also that
along these ferruginous lineaments,
the nontronite partjc!es are strongly
oriented perpendicular to the plane
of the original fractures, whkh
dearly contrasts \...ith the unoriented pattern of the inner parts. The
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
175,176
HORNBLENDEBEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I I'
I I ,'11
whose Z
axis is parallel to the plane of
the thin section is partially weathered into a complex septo-alteromorpb. The observed pattern is
determined by the combination of
the poorly dneloped network of
parallel cJea,'ages with several transverse cracks. Many denticulate remnan ts are stilJ visible in the
alteromorph; they are surrounded
by large residual empty pores
(peripheral voids or inter-plasma mineral voieG). Note that, as usually
PART
3:
ALTIROMORPHS
291
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
377,378
ORTHOPYROXENEBEARING
ClINOPYROXENITE
0.2
:-- 0.1
0.0 mm
of orthopyroxcne
has been completely weathered
as a result of two successh'c stages
of weathering. The first, under conoitions of resn'icted drainage, has
promoted the formation of thick
bands of a smectitic ~econdary
product developed along two transmineral tl-actures, between which
large residual remnants w('re
retained. These residues are denticulate and tightly enclosed, without
any rcsirlual pores. Partly weathen'd, rdatively coarse grains of
~
292
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
379,380
ORTHOPYROXNEBEARING
CLINOPYROXENITE
r:
0.0 mm
I ,
erosion rapidly
lowers the soil surface,
resiclues of wcatherabJe minerals
can be brought into the ncw geochemical en\'ironment, such that
incipient weathering to smectitic
secondar;' products is bypassed.
Weathering thus gives rise directly
to oxyh)'clroxides of iron. The photomicrographs show several crystals
of orthop~rroxene that ha\e been
partiaJly weathered, in the lower
level of the profile, to a smectite
according to irregular banded pat-
PART 3; ALTEROMORPHS
293
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
381,382
GABBRO
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
I
I
in this section the photo m icrographs
have illustrated the formation of
two or more secondar:, products,
which have differentiaUy concent:rated the chemical elements of the
primary mineral. In these illusLTations, two secondar;' products also
occur together, but the development of the second one depends on
the later evolution of the firstformed product; the polyphase
alteromorph is due to a gradual
transformation, with de\'elopment
of an ephemeral intermediate
294
I I
POLYPHASE ALTEROMORPHS
)8),)84
NEPHELlNE-BEARING
SYENITE (LUJAVRITE)
Poc;os de Caldas.
MG, Brazil
Depth: 0.5 m
Polyphase alteromorph
after nepheline
Objective: x 4
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
of
J nepheline is first partia 11)'
weathered to an isotropic intCl'mediate phase according to a peripheral, centripetaJ process, This tlrst
stage gives rise to an irregular core
surrounded by a colorless phase
which, with aging, takes on a typical
hierachized retiporo-alteromorphic
pattern (see also 300, 301 and 302).
Further away from the core are the
polyhedral volumes of isoo'opic
material. They are smaller, and the
reticular network of tlssures is more
of
PART
3: AiITROMOI\PHS
295
385,386
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
02
0,0 mm
has be.en
replaced, under late-magmatic
conditions, by a sympkctitic intergrowth of orthopFoxenc and u:regularly
distributed
grains
of
magnetite. No olivine remnants
persist in the alteromOl-ph. This nrst
alteromorph is a normal polyphase
alteromorph. During a later stage of
hydrothermal
alteratjon,
the
orthopyroxene part of the symplectite has been converted to talc,
whereas thl" symplectitic textu.re is
not di.stW'bed and remains dearly
, I',
296
I' I
"
'I
387,388
CUNOPYROXENITE
0,6
004
0.2
0.0 mm
11
11 I
11
of the Rrstformed polyphase alteromorph
is similar to that shown in the two
previous photomicrographs: an
olivine crystal has been completely
replaced by a symplectitic intergrowth of orthopyroxene and l1lagnetitl",
but
the
magnetite
intergrowths are preferentially concentrated in tbe central part of the
altcromorph. The second stage of
transformation takes place u.nder
the very late influence of a supergene process that has weathered the
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPHS
297
389,390
CUNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
-0.0 mm
dan
olhine CTvstal that has been
replaced b) a symplectitic intergrowth of orthopyroxcnc and magnetite. III thb case, a large part of
the original crystal of oli\-ine has
sur\,l\'cd in the centr<J1 part of the
polyphase alteromorph. Sm<J1J areas
of sYl.11p!ectite are easily identified,
and form a partial rim between the
bright yellow core and the thick
beige-coloTcd rim. After this first
stage of transformation, the al teromorph contained a core 01" primary
298
391,392
OUVINE-BEARING
CUNOPYROX.ENITE
0.3
-
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I '. ,
of alteranon, under the inOuence of a
late-magmatic process, a crystal of
olivine is partially re!)!aced by a rim
of orthopyroxene that extends aU
around the crystal, and by an intermediate ring of symplectite that
irregularly surrounds U1C olivine
corc. During a later stage ot'
hydrothermal alteration, part of the
ouvine core was first replaced by
yellowish sapnnite, both along its
network of p1'Otoclastic fractures
(C4, El) and as irregular patches
PART
3:
ALTIROMORPHS
299
191
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
300
394,395
ORTHOPYROXENEBEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.3
=-
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPHS
and microgranular in tJ-te talc-bearing part. This altered part orthe primary mineral is a polyphase
alteromorph. Most of th" orthopyroxcne crystal has not been modified in this first stage of alteration.
During a later stage of weathering,
it was nearl\, completely weathered
to yellowish saponitc, which surrounds minute denticulate residues.
As the geochemical conditions of
the weathering became progressively modified, empty peripheral
pores (black rims in XPL) were
301
396,397
PERIDOTITE
Jacupiranga.
SP. Brazil
Sampled at outcrop by
S.M.B. de Oliveira
Very complex
polygenetic-polyphase
alteromorph
after olivine
Objective: x 16
PPL and XPL
['
0.0 mm
I
'I
of hypogene alteration, part of the
olivine in the rock was serpentinizeu, The serpentine is u.islTibuted according to an irregular
cross- banded pattern that surrowlds
many irregular cores of olivinc. The
photomicrographs show the successive transformations occurring in a
Single grain of olivine. During a
later step of low-grade hydrothermal alteration, part of the oli\ine
cores h.,s been peripherally and centripetally a.ltered to saponite. The
302
398,399
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0,4
0.2
0.0 mm
HI'
of these two
photomicrographs, taken of an
unaltered rock. is necessary to
explain the development or the
I)olygenetic alteromorphs to be
shown in tht' next photomicrographs. The main crystal shown in
these first two photomicrographs is
a large grain or diopside. It
included, during its growth, some
grains of orthop)'ToxCfit" small remnants of which (irregular pale pink
PART
3:
ALTE~OMO~PHS
303
400,401
CONTACT AREA
BETWEEN
CLlNOPYROXENITE
AND SURROUNDING
GRANITES
I I
I
of c1inopyroxene is partly weathered to
saponite as a secondary product. Its
optical orientation is parallel to the
Z axis of the plimary mineral. Many
small denticulate residues are still
recognizable. Since !be host pyroxene has a monoclinic symmetry. its
extinction angle is very diFferent
from that of the secondary product.
The photograph taken in XPL
dearly shows this difference in orientation when the microscope stage
is rotated in a direction such that
J
304
ATlAS
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
402,403,404
WEATHERED
PYROXENITE
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
11 1
1 I show
the case of a more advanced
stage of weathering which, during
an earlier stage, was very similar to
the cast' sholYn in 400 and 401, The
alteromorph after clinopyroxene is
nearly complete; the saponitic secondary product, which exh.ibirs a
phylloporo-alteromorphic pattern,
is lI'ell rleveloped at the expense of a
clinupyroxene crystal whose remnants have nearly completely disappeared. Most visible inclusions
consist of unweathered amphibole
well enclosed in the phylloporoalterornorph, Only rn'o vcr;' small
remnants of clinop)'Toxene remain.
They are lisible only in the third
photograph. taken at such an angle
or rotation of the microscope stage
that all secondary products arc at
extinction. The~' arc recognizable by
PART
o!,
3:
ALnRoMoRPHS
graph. pOSSibly have been interpl-eteJ as reslJting from the wcatJ1ering of an amphibolc crystal. SOUl
photomicrographs taken in XPL
shovv the perfect ol-ientation of the
sheet silicates tbroughout the entire
alteromorph, a<.:cording to the Z
axis of the precursor mineral.
305
C I-I .~
PT E R J 0
developed by the late accumulation of allochthonous material within previously formed porous
alteromorphs. The allochthonous material nlay
result from the crystallization of minerals incorporating elements transported in solution, or
from the deposition of material transported as
small detrital particles (Fig. 39).
POROUS ALITFlOMORI'H
39.
Relarionship
alreromorph.
fiGURE
CUMULo-AlTEROMORPH
or"
cumulo-i1hcmmorph to a porous
Koilo-alteromorphs and all varieties of "pow"aJtewmorphs can become later infilled by further crystallization, or deposition, of allochthonous materia.l;
this material is either derived from adjacent weathered
minerals by transmincTaJ displacement of elements, or
from the upper parts of the profile or landscape by
long-distance transport, either of elements in solution
or of detrital particles in suspension (Fig. 40).
The extraneous elements derived from the ,",'eathering of adjacent minerals, and transported in d.issolved form. are either incorporated into the structure
of the secondary minerals. whose original or potential
chemical composition is modifted, or concentrated in a
distillct and independent crystalline or amorpholls
phase that develol)s within the pores of the alteromorph (Fig. 40A).
.~
2
--'
L-
ftc.;UI\I:
4-0,
\:'Vl)UI
no" nf
A,
Accumu~tion
0:
incipknl \""('cHhc>ring tt) iron ox~hydroxidl.:~ <Jlljng pan of the clcolvagcs. fractures and houm.bric~;
]:
advanceJ stage IJI weathering, with enlargeci ul'cn frJClure,. minute denticulate. r"siJuP5 and many ["1rolLs "olwne,s;
3:
IlnaJ stage of w('.tnning. ,lInl I'urmalion 01' a r"gubr - i.rr':~lIIJr ,cpto-alteromorph 01' go,:thile;
4:
or gihbsill~
Now: Thi, tvpe of intllling is ,'asily distinguished !'r'om the onho'polyph..,c: alt~rornorl)h to goec.hitc +- gihh,ire shown in Figun.. S C+; open
frattur,''< can h, ,".""11 withi" ,md bnween the neighllvrirl); nlil1"-"II" and allochtll<,Hwus gihbsirc alsn J1l~Y in.11I1 all the transminerJI
and inll'rminl'l'31 f'r'~('rure,' and all the neighhoring "pow",alt"romc'rplts.
B.
():
1:
ineipiC'nt. wcathering
2:
Illf)IT
l;
compk'k wcathering to a gll)lnt'r(>,~cf'IO"lterornurph of gihbsilC and incipient inf'lling 1>\ Iamin"t~d material;
-1-:
parl'i"I inlllling b)' nUlerial. which bm.", cmpty ('hann~k CUMULO-Cl OMEROSEPTOALTEROMOHPH,
to
~J,.lnct"'d wi:..lrhL'ring: irregul.tr scpta of gibbsilC and pf'riph\'raJ "oids arc fonned arounn can:rnou., l"C'sidui:s;
or
C.
0:
I:
incipient dis.<olution of thv: 'Iuart'l and dev-"Iopment or internal ann pcrirJwr.l! pore, aJong rr,Ktur('S and houndaries;
1:
IIr,t crystals of gib!>,ite rl allo('hlhonous o"igin """"lop along 0p"r, 1'1''''-1&''' and peripher,,1 p0,.,."s;
widefleJ n.:sidual
4,:
1""'''' ,u1<i
Note: 1I no re,;iJLlal guarl" i, "bsern'c1 within the partial curnulo-.lltt'l'omorph, it will not be possibk to a$c"r1ain the origin of the altv:romorph. wl\ieh can r",ult I'mm th,~ inlilling 01' th" ,,),;t)' lert hy dissolution of ;LilY mineral (["i/" qu"rt;:" ('"lcite. "paDle), The "'(;;lth
er'ing '.d: an alllrnil)umri,'h primary mincral can give rise to :J sjmibrlv trextureJ glomero.borryo.aJlerOJl1orph,
308
the formation of the gibbsite septa, and consequently much more aluminum must be imported
from the neigh boring grains of albite. This results
in the formation of a residual pore-volume much
greater than in the case of the weathering of
anorthite. In both cases, the number and thickness of the septa are similar, but the proportion
of residual pores is very different. The glomeramorphic part of the alteromorphs formed after
anorthite is important (glomero-septo-alteromorphs), whereas the areas between the septa in
the alteromorphs after albite are practically
empty (true septo-alteromorphs).
Each gr<lln of feldsp,lr successively plays the S.HTlC
roles. In the incipient stage or weathering, when the
septomorphic texture is formed, the feldspar crystal
recei\'es alum.inum from the superjaeent grains or
\Yeathering feldspar. ThereJner, when tbe ~tage of formation of the glomeromorphic texturf' is reached, the
feldspar grain loses a part of its original aluminum,
which flromotes (a) the formatio!) of gibhsite in the
subjac,'nt grains of weathering feldspar, anJ (b) the formation of porous \'olullles in the grain being considered.
Similar processes probably are acb\'C' during the
ferrallitic weathering of fcrromai;Tflesian minerals to
septo-alterolTIorphs of goethik. The crystallization of
tJH~se distinct secondary minerals (gibbsite and
goethite) from neighhoring grains or feldspar 'lIld
pyroxene promote tJle transfer of ,1luminum and iron
only to the alteromorphs after feldspar and pyroXellE',
respectively. No aluminum is added to, and no gibbsite
is observed in, the septo-alteromorphs after pyroxene,
whereas no iron is added io, aTld no gOl'thite is
ohs('ncd in, the Jlteromorphs after Feldspar. Each
sel)to-alteromorph only contains the Jomina.nt insoluble element that is speciflc tu the primary minerJI from
which it de\cloped.
Nevertheless, once the altcromorphs after
feldspar, for example, arc completely developed, equilibrium bet'wcen their chemical balances can rca50nably be assumed by the bct that each altcwmorph has
gained, on average, earl~' in its de\'c!0plllcnt, an
amount of aluminum equal to that it ",iU lose during
the final step of its weathering. All feldspar crystals
ha\"(: reacted ill the same \\ay. In th.is case tl iso\'olumet.ric weathering, the mass of tJ)e gibbsitc crystals in
a given altcromorph probahly corresponds to aJt tJlC
aluminum origillally contained ill the parent fclJsp,lr
grain. In ohscnaLiolls of thin sections, it is notcwortJ1Y
that the weathering of the alkali fel(hpar of granitic
rocks produces very porous septo-.-dteromorphs,
whereas tJ1C L'alcium-rich fddspar of basic rocks gives
PART
3:
AlTEROMORPHS
309
310
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPHS
]11
FIGURl 41.
A.
D:
~uh~draJ
I:
incipient weJlhering '.If the crystal 11' isotropic OlatNial accmding to an irlTgular pellicular and speckJeJ pat1.crn;
2:
Lhe n<"phdin" Cl")'st:;.! is reJuc"J to an irrcgulaJ' cavernous cenu',,1 Cl)re $urrounded by the isorropic mal~rial;
C1'yst,1 or Ilephdinc';
3:
rhe f~\\ rcs'iJu~, or nq.1hclinc ar,~ cmh~cldcd in isotropic materiallllicrocli\'iJc:d as a resull of a shrinkage process;
4-:
Note: Thi' <'''ample or W<""-lhering \\'ithout accumulation or allochLhl1nou~, maLeriJ! is provided to better visualiz~ what GIn happen if the
altcromorph e\'olves fUflher. Note Ihat the I,r" ,fornl(~J slr.,ight iI","'cs arc widened when further IIssures de\'dop; in this "ay, a
regularl,\' hierarchi;<~rI nelwork or open tl,.,"urcs pmgressi\'('\, de->'elops in Ih~ isotropic malerial.
B.
0:
I:
nepheline cr~,t31 i' r~duccd to a C'd\lTnou-' ccntr,,1 core slllToundecl b)' slightly Ilssurecl isoU'llric mincru!;
1:
few rc'siJucs or t.be primary mine",1 remain in the isotropic' ITldteriaJ, "hmc retiClUatt' network or f1s.,ures develops progressiv~I)';
4:
Nol<:: '111is s~conJ eXJ.mple norm,lll, repl,c"s Ihe IJre\'iuus un~ wh.;n the ruck undergoing \\'eath~ring is ]ocall'd in a Zl)n~ nrabsolur.e accumulation, eilber in t.bc proille or ill the l;,nd.sQpe, This ~"a.rnple shr,\\-s thal Lhe d"\'e1opmcllt of gibhsite in the network of Ilssures
can occur before Ihe isoo'op;, malnial has evolved to cr~'staJlir1l' 'ccondary products,
C.
Absolute accumulation
0:
retiporo-altcromorph
!:
rew re,iclll~s or nc'phcline "ithin an i500'opic materi,l, cro'<,'rI hv J retku.lale network of Ilssure,;
2:
rdiplJru,allc'romorph <Oll'isting of polyhedral v.... lumes of ison'opic material isolated Iw open hi"r;,rchic"J fisslIres;
3:
4-:
or fis~ure.$,
+ ALVEOPORO,ALTEROMORPH,
312
fIGURE
A.
41.
EVOl..lmo:,/
0 -..\ LTmOMOK.l'HS.
0:
cullcdra1tT~'<LaI
I:
2:
residual nepheline b partly weathered (second stage) ro i~()tropic secondar) material showing incipi('ntIL~<uring;
3:
dewlopmenr of rhe ",rit-ulal'" texture in rhe secondary mat"'rial, whereas natrolite is nOI )"1 weathered;
+:
nJuolire is ,,",:athered to a compact assemblag.. .,f gibbsit'" ervstals: POLYPHASE - POlYGENETIC i\LTEKOMORPH.
of nephelin,':
[I)
Nore: The weathering of the nalroLite to gibbsit~ genc:rall\" 'tans, rk,clops, and is achi,"wl before the lal,'r evolution of 111<' isotropic mat';rial formed al the expens... of the oephcline residue.). Both .~ec ndar) pha" ,-.111 COf'xist for a long time if ahsolur~ aCL1Jmulation <)F
aluminum does nOl OCcur. The pol~gt~nelk aspect is due In th oe("urrc:nc:", of t:1m distinct <tag~'.
B.
0:
I:
aJreraljon 01" thl' nepheline t(, isotropic mac.. rial. which leave, ,'oars.. residual cores of I1H~ primar~- mineral;
2:
we.athe.ring of natrolicc ro auto~hthonolls gibbsile, and of nepheline to reticulate isotropic marerial (rig. 42 1\4-);
3:
inftlling of the 0p"'J1 reticulate fissures by allochthonous gibbsite, wben'a~ isotropic material ,till persists;
4:
dissolution of the i."'!Topic material: the (OmpaC:l gibhsik afll'r natrolite co",xj,rs with th,' reticulac", gibhsile.
Note.: Both generations \)1' gibb'ice art' generallv dearly riisringuishcd ill lhin se<.:tion by the ,'N:mblagc' in Ih,' crysl.lllillc units: compaC1.
assemblage of gihbsite after Ilatmlile and reticulate porous 'lSs<.'mblage of gibb;ite after ncphe'line (POlYGENETIC ALTERO,
MORPH); this ca,e seems to he U,... most common in \\'\'ather"d alkaline rocks.
C,
[nfiUing of the reticulate pores and later evolution of the isotropic material to gibbsite
0:
I:
weathering of the ncpheline lO isotropic Illaterial, with large n'-<idual eon:.s of the primaf\' mineml:
2:
weaulcriog of nau-olice 10 pore-tree gibhsite, and of nepheline to the r",tkulat... isotropic malerial (f'ig. 42 A+);
3:
inftiliJlg of the reticuldte IIssure.s hl" allochthonou.s gjbbsit( before weathering of the isotropic nHl,-riaJ (Fig_ +2 133);
+:
+ CUMULO-RETI + }\LVEOI'ORO-.'\LTEROMORPH.
Note: Th~ three generations of gibbsit<: are not always ckarly distinguished in 111in section: th~ irn:gular mri rJ./lriornh' Jisnibuled pOrt'S,
appearing onl" in the porous (,I-eoporo,) pa.rt of rhe alt:cromorph .fter neph~line, dre ge.oerallv mu smaJlw he clearly distinguishL'd
Irom t1,e COmp,lCl (hulo-) p,lrt, arter natrulitc (POLYGF.:NETIC AlTEROMORPH).
PART ): ALTEROMORPHS
313
C H,~ P TE R I 1
i I
\'
'I
"I'. >I
by
late partial an. d irregular alteration or degradation of the unstable secondary products, which
were first developed in a nonporous or only
slightly porous alteromorph. They are not tTue al\'\,:oporo-alteromorphs (onho-aheoporo-alteromorphs) , but
rather polygenetic structures (para-alveoparo-alteromorphs) whose origin is in some cases recognized only
with difilcu It~,. Here, the accumulated material has an
autochthonous origin; it is genetically associuted with
the first-formed secondary product, and it consists of
elements sno\\lng relative accumulation with.in a preexisting alteromorph (Fig. 43).
For example, an orthopyroxene crystal can
be completely weathered, in the lower part of a
profile, to a compact holo.alteromorph of a
smectite-group mineral. During a further stage of
weathering. in the upper part of the profile, the
secondary smectite becomes unstable under the
new geochemical conditions. and is degraded in
irregular patches, which are efficiently replaced by
residual irregular alveolar pores. All these pores
are internally rimmed with iron oxyhydroxides.
which contrast. by their dark brown color. with
the paler yellow-green color of the surrounding
smeetite.The iron oxyhydroxides host the immobile elements of the previously formed smectite;
the deposit consists of autochthonous material of
relative accumulation.
In this case, a para-all'coporo-alrcromorph is devel,
oped. It must be emphasized thut the distinction
between ortho- and para-alveoporo-alteromnrphs is
not always as easy as in the above example. Tile late
weathering of the first-formed alteroplasma does not
necessariJy promote the development nf a different
sccnnd plasma. It can only promote the de"elopment,
b~' dissolution, of empty ah-eolar pores whose morphology may' be identical to the morphology of the
pores that form directly. at the expense of residues nf
the primary mineral, during the development of the
first-formed alteroplasma. DepOSits of iron oxyhydroxide not only appear as an internal rim around alveolar pores, but also as an Q\'eraIJ rim de,.-c)oped around
the alteromorph by peripheral degradation of its con-
:=
increase) by irregular degradation of the alteroplasma itself and by the leaching of a part of its
constituents. A second generation of distinct
alteroplasma may well be genetically associated
with this newly formed pore-space.
PRIMARY MINERAL
PARTLV VV;ATHERED
SMECTITE + PORES
SMECTITE ONLY
SMECTITE + GOETHITE
~
~I
PARTIAL
ALVEOPORO-ALTEROMORPH
1.-
PARTIAL
MONO-HOLO-ALTEROMORPH
COMPLETEL
v;
VVEATHERED
MONOPHASE HOLOALTEROMORPH
ORTHO-ALVEOPOROALTEROMORPH
PARTIAL
TWO-PHASE ALTEROMORPH
TWO-PHASE ORTHOALVEOPORO-ALTEOROMORPH
FURTHER EVOLUTION
PARA-ALVEOPORO-ALTEROMORPH
FIGUJU: 43,
llluslt'atiom 'JI' aIICrnml)rl,l" In ill",trate their fllrUh.:r 1.~Vollllion. Distinctit)1l bctv.'t:E'n an ortho.;:d\'coporo.
,1Itrl"-'111orph "",cl a par.,-"Inup'ort> ~1~ruJ11orph.
316
PART
3:
AlTIROMOR?HS
317
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
405,406
HYPERSTHENE
GABBRO
02
318
0,0 mm
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
407
DIABASE
Serra do CUbatao.
Curucutu, SP, Brazil
Sampled by M.C. Groke
Cumulo-septoalteromorph after a
ferromagnesian mineral
Objective: x 6.3
XPL
~
~
0.3
0,2
0,1
0,0 mm
I ,.
shows an
example of a cumulo-septoalteromorph, whose formation and
further development are rather similar to those in the two previous
i1lustrat.ions, The rock is completely
weathered, and no remnants of the
primary mineral are \isible in the
entire thin section. For this reason,
it is impossible to defIne tht' exact
origin of this alteromorph, which is
deflnitdyattributable to Lbe weathering of a ferromagnesian mineral,
PART
Ill
3;
A1.nROMOI\PHS
whost' ma.in characteristics arc simto those of the previous photomicrographs. An illustntio!1 taken
in PPL does not accompany this
XPL photograph because it would
show only the network of dark
brown septa, without any further
information.
iar
]19
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
408,409
OUVINE-BEARING
CUNOPYROXENITE
has been
altered to a two-phase alteromorph consisting of ma!:,'llctite and
well-oriented talc. The rim of Sl'Conoary magnetite continuously surrounds the altl~romorl)h, as is
usually the case In such alteration,
whereas primary magnetitc is still
\isible along the tTaces of the original protoclastic fractures. Th!':' rock
IS
extensively weathered: the
c1inopyroxene crystals, which surround the talc alteromorph after
olidnc, arc strongly weathered to a
320
0.3
0,2
0.1
0,0 mm
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
410
BIOTITE-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
PPL
0.3
-
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
I
\I
of gTJins of the
micaceous mineral, locally
abundant, into large meso-alteromorphs of vcrmiculitc has produced
an important increase in the original \'o]ume of the rock. This
increase is expressed by the extensive Fracturing of the grain,~
included in the micaceous minera],
ma.inly Ulose minerals that exhibit
an elongate habit, Ii.ke the prisms of
clinopyroxene, and those that
exhibit a perpendicular orientation,
or ncarJ-v so, relative to the cleavage
of the enclosing micaceous mineral.
Fractures are perpendicular, or
nearly so, to the long axis of the
pyroxene prisms and parallel to the
layers of the sWToUIlding \'ermi
culite. These large inter- or
intramineral
\'oids,
dcYeloped
either between the E'xtremities of
the prisms and the sunounding
mineral, or within the included
PART
3:
ALTEJlOMORPHS
321
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
411,411
PHLOGOPITE-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
f"
0.0 mm
322
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
413,414
PHLOGOPITE-RICH
CLlNOPYROXENITE
r::
tL
01
0.0 mm
T '
e"ents in
the histor)' of this ph:lIoporoalteromurph resemble thost' in the
case of the previous alteromurph.
The difference lies in the fact that
this thin section is ClIt almost parallel to the (luartz deposit, and not
perpendicular to it as in the former
example. Such a fortuitous orientation allows the internal texture of
the deposit to be better ohser ved.
PART 3: ALTF.~OMO~PHS
323
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
Cl
415
WEATHERED GRANITE
of kaolinite in biotite
Objective: x 16
XLP
l"
-
\\"eathercd rock is a
biotitc-bearing granite in \\'hich
most of hiotite L1;'sta Is are replaced
b;' a meso-alteromorph of kaolinitc,
This replacement is accompanied by
a substantial increase in volume.
This volume increase of onc compo!le!lt of the priman' rock i. responsible I'or the opening of maDY traDSand intermineral fractures, This network of fractures provides the pathway for the absolute accumulation
of material deriv\~c1 ['rom the upper
soil and \\'eathered horizons, either
as deposits of detritalminer:1ls or as
324
0.0 mm
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
416,417
ALUMINUM-RICH
IRON DURICRUST
DEVELOPED
ON CLlNOPYROXENITE
Objective: x I 0
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
, 1
I I
of a micaceous minel'a], probably phlogopitc. has been completely
dissolved, IJerhal)S after its n::vJacement by an ephemeral intermediale
secondary m.ineral. This dissolution
without an\" residual material has
l)roll1oted the formation of a koilo-
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPH5
325
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
418,419
BAUXITIC PROFILE
DEVELOPED ON
GRANITE
Siagozohoin, Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 3.4 m
Sampled by B. Boulange
Cumulo-septo-alteromorph
after plagioclase
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
-- 0.2
'- 0.1
:.. 0.0 mm
326
CUMULQ-ALTEROMORPHS
420,421
GRANITIC ROCK
BR 158. Brazil
Sampled by F. Soubies
Depth: 1 In
Cumulo
glomero-septoalteromorph
after plagioclase
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
-
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
T'
"
and
next two show the rarely
obsen'c.d case of the late ITIJlacemen{ of gibbsite crystals of a gJomero-septo-alteromorph
after
plagioclase by ncwl~ lTystallizl'd
kaolinite, owing to the ahsolute
accumulation of silica transferred in
solution from the upper horizons.
in PPL, thl' kaolinite nE'oformalions
appear as yellowish material
because of concom.it,mt in11ux of all
iron-bearing solution, where.'!s the
gibbsite substrate remains colorless.
I
th~
PART 3: ALTEllOMORPHS
ann
327
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
422,423
GRANITIC ROCK
BR 158, Brazil
Sampled by F. Soubies
Depth: 2 m
Cumulo-meta-alveoporoglomero-septo-alteromorph
after plagioclase
Objective: x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
0.4
- 0.2
-- 0.0 mm
T, U1C
'I
'I
,hO\v'
spectacular cas(" 01' a glamero-septo-alteromorph after plagioda.~e, in which most Dj' the gibbsitc
has been dissolved, giving rise to
many large interconnected vughs
(meta -a Iveo poro- g Iom era-se ptoaltcromorph). The relics of th.:
septa and of agglon'1eratcd volumes
have been coated by kaolinite,
which crystallized in siw (cwnuJom eta -a IVTOp oro- g Iomcro- septoalteromorph), The ferruginous
coating along the IIssures that con-
]28
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
424,425
APATITE-RICH
CARBONATITE
~ ::
t
~
0.1
0.0 mm
I I
\ I
,Ill
dissolution 01"
ferrom calcite of the primary
rock has given rise to many contiguous koilo-alteromorphs. Their volume and shape are maintained more
or less undisturbed, owing first! y to
the formation of residual iron- and
manganese-rich deposits in the rim
of each a1teromorph (see photographs 126, 127 and 285, 286,
\\hieh are taken from the same profile, and which illustrate the first
and the last steps of weathering of
the primary mineral). Secondly,
PART 3: ALTEROMOiU>HS
ur
329
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
416,427
AMPHIBOllTE
Southwestern
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 2.7 m
Cumulo-retiporoalteromorph
after feldspar
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
f
~
0.3
::- 0.2
:-- 0.1
I or I"cldspar, presumahly
plagioclase, has been completely weathered to colorles, and
homogeneous isotropic material.
\\lith aging, this materi'll has
become mierodivided bv a network
or open fissun~s, forming a typical
retiporo-aJteromorph. The associated amphibole and magnetite
undergo weathering later. in the
upper horiwns. Sampled Ileal' the
weathering front, the Feldspargroup minerals are the first ones to
be weathered, and Uleir altero-
330
0.0 mm
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
428,429
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
(LUJAVRITE)
Poc;os de Caldas.
MG. Brazil
Depth: 1.2 m
Incipient evolution of a
retiporo-aJteromorph
after nepheline
Objective:x 4
PPL and XPL
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
"
I'. of nephellne is
partly weathered to a colorless
isotropic material whose internal
reticulation is marC' and more
densely deycloped as areas more
and more distant tram the core arc
considered. The weatbering J(,\'C'l
aped according to a classical peripheral and centripet.1J pattern. The
residual ('ore, clearly ,-isible in XPL,
is lnknscly fissured. Minute crystals
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPHS
331
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
430
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
(LUJAVRITE)
Po~os de CaJdas,
MG, Brazil
Depth: 0.8 m
Retiporo-alteromorph
after nepheline
Incipient cumulative
process
Objective: x 6.]
XPL
0.3
l
0-
0.2
=-
0.1
0.0 m
431
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
(LUJAVRITE)
Poc;:os de Caldas.
MG. Brazil
Depth: 0.6 m
Detailed view
of gibbsite infillings
Objective:
XPL
>~
10
0,2
0.1
sho\\s a
mon; adyanced stage of the
inllJling oC the retipores ,mJ of the
rt:placeme.nt of the isotropic mater
ial after ncphclinc by crystals of
gibbsite, whereas a largc' residual
core of primary nepheJine is still
maintained in the centrill part of the
rctiporo-alteromorph. The reticular
texture of the depusits of allochthonous gihbsite is not cd-sily distinguished from the smaller crystals of
gibbsite of autochthonous origin,
332
0.0 mm
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
432,433
NEPHELlNE 5YENITE
(LUJAVRITE)
Poc;os de Caldas.
MG. Brazil
Depth: 0.6 m
Cumuhrretiporoalteromorph
after nepheline
Objective: x 6.3
PPL and XPL
0.3
0.2
0.1
-- 0.0 mm
I
I I'
"'\
illustrate a
complex case In which the
residual corl" of nepheline (A I, B2)
has heen directly weathered to rinegrained gibbsite; during .In early
~tage of weathering (comparablt' to
that in the pre\'ious cases), the
peripheral pal-t of the primary nuncral hao been weathered into a reriporo.aJteromorph ul' isotropic
materiaJ. The retipores of the marginal part of the alteromorph are
in.lll\ed by coarse crystals of gibbs-
PART
3:
ALTIRoMORPHS
333
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
434,435
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
(LUJAVRITE)
1.0
0.0 mm
or J
we.ath-
334
to a retiporo-alterolllo1"[)h of
isotropic material. The later steps in
the isotropic matethe evolution
rial arc: (I) opening of a network or
retipures, (2) inlilling of the retipores by allochthonous gibbsite,
who~(' I'etindar textural pattern is
dearly di~tinguished. (3) replacement of the iwtTopic Illaterial by
crystals or autochthonous gibbsite,
\\hose- \'cry I1n(' grain-size contrasts
sha.rply with that of dlC n:tieular
glbbsite. Three baenerations of baihhs......
ite are thus associared bu t c1earl)'
or
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
436
NEPHELlNE SYENITE
(LUJAVRITE)
Po~os de Caldas.
Minas Gerais. Brazil
Depth: 1.4 m
Absolute accumulations
of gibbsite in fractured
primary minerals
Objective: x 4
XPL
-
0.6
OA
0.0 mm
,11 I
was collected in the
contact area with the unweathcred rock, containing as main rockforming
minerals
orthoclase,
nephelllle and aegirine, with subSidiary eudiaJytc and arfvedsonite.
The photomicrograph shows an area
rich i.n ul1l'l'eathered but fractured
onhoclase, with most grains intentionally placed at extinction in XPL
I"or better contrast \\' ith allochthonous accumulations of gibbsitE'
(CS). The orthoclase is partially surrounded by nephelim> gr.JiIlS, whose
complete weathering has developed
t~'pical
glomero-septo-alteromorphs (AS). Careful examination
PART
3:
ALTEROMORPHS
or
335
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
437
OUVINE-8EARING
ClINOPYROXENITE
0.0 mm
process has
replaced a crystal of olivine
three secwith an association
ondary lJ1iJlerals: talc, tremolitc and
magnetite. Tbe photoruicrograph in
PPL shows that the talc, the pale
bcigc-colored material (C-D2), is
the main product, \vhereas lremolite, appearing a.s colorlcss needlesha[led crystals (82, Cl), IS
resDictcd to the marginal part of
the alteromorph, which is in contact with cl inopyroxene crystals.
The magnetite grains ;)re mainJ)'
distributed ill the peripheral part of
the alteromorph. The)' accommodate the iron content. of the original
olivine, which does not enter the
structure of talc nor that of trerno-
or
336
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
438,439
CLINOPYROXENITE
0.2
::... 0.1
0.0 mm
I I of dinopyroxene
has been panly weathered. The
phylloporo-altcromorph is composed of ...vell-oriented Hakes of
saponite, and sC\'eral remnants of
the primary mineral persist. The
regular orientation of the secondary
product is clearly seen in x.PL. This
firSt step of \veathering, under conditions of restricted leaching, began
by the fOl'mation of a Hnt banded
texture along several intramineral
fractures, whose traces arc still recweathognizable. In a later stage
or
PART): ALTEROMOIl.PHS
337
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
440,44.
CUNOPYROXENITE
Objective: x 10
PPL and XPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
",
338
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
442,443
OLlVINE-BEARING
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.3
~ 0.2
~ 0.1
0.0 mm
I !,
of hypogene alteration, an olivine
crystal has been completely
replaced by a holo-alteromorph of
talc. -n1e talc particles are microcrystalline and randomly oriented,
whereas the traces of the original
protocIastic fractures, coated by
particles of magnetite, are well preserved. When subjected to late
processes of weathering, in the
upper levels of the alterite, the talc
component of the alterornorph is
partially degraded and dissolved,
PART 3: ALTEOMORPHS
339
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
444,445
ORTHOPYROXENEBEA.RING
CLINOPYROXENITE
0,2
340
=-
0.1
=-
O.Omm
poro-altcromurph. Since two different mineraJ phases are successively formed from the same
primary mineral, the alteromorph is
a two-phase alteromorph. Note thatthe' characteristic dcnticulation of
the p)TOXene residucs was cle.arly
maintained Juring the second step
of vveathC'I'ina.
Several tr,lnsminc-raI
b
fractures ha\'e been more recently
widened, and coat<:d with depOSits
of [eTTuginolls clays of allochthonons origin.
CUMULO-ALTEROMORPHS
446
GRANlnC ROCK
Siagozohoin, Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 2.4 m
Meta-alteromorph
after biotite - kaolinite
Objective: x 16
XPL
r'
-
0.0
447
GRANITIC ROCK
T'
" ,
PART): ALTffiOMORPHS
341
Cf-{;I P TE R 1 2
Discussion
'11'
I
I
11
11 processes or
supergene weathering have produced
variably shaped and textured alteromorphs from practically all weathtTable minerals present in the parent rock. I.n many
L<lSeS, the resulting altcromorphs maintain some characteristic features of the prima,y minerals From which
they have developed. This finding allows the identification of their origin, especially if thin sections of' less
weathered rocks also arc available. Some o[ these characteristics are microtextural, others arc geochemical
or mineralogical, and yet others are linked to the relative ~patiaJ distribution of the minerals or to specific
associations of minerals. On a larger scale of observation, most of the alterites have inherited the
macrostructural and macrotextmal features of the parent rock, such as speCific stTatigraphic, petrograph.ic or
tectom,: features.
or
344
'
11 J
n,-
'1\llll
or
nIl'
replaced alteroreIic
Sill-
CHAPTER
13
Definitions
lITHOREUC
LirhoreliCs are residual fragments of unweathered rock, a few millimeters to a few centimeters
composition
and
their
texture.
to
previously
PEUOR1UC
or
Dnhic and anonhic concretions are usually distinguished. In the former, the base material of t.he concretion is identical to that of the surrounding man-ix in
wwch they are embedded. In the case of anorthic concretions, the base material of the concretion and that of
the matrix differ, The frequency of occurrence of anorthic concretions is generally much higher t1l<Ul would
normally be expected. Indeed, the concn:tion-formjng
process exh.ibits a I'ea] tendcnc): to operate in areas or
matrix that ha\'e a different composition, or v.ithin or
around allochthonous featurc~ that have been introduced within this matrix (lithorelics and alterorelics,
for example).
I\d30~
= stone)
designates a
describe the volumes formed by local concentrations of compounds that cement the pre-existing
348
CHAPTER
14
LITHOR'1.
C mpn, ition
Litlwrelics are, hy definjtion. undisnlrbed assemblage" of wlaItercd primary minerals. Nevertheless, for
pedologicaJ purposes, this definition must be extended
to include the fragment.s of relict rock whose mineral
constituents have heen, at least part.ially, replaceJ by
secondary minerals as a result of h)vogene alteration.
They arc, for examples. relics composed of tremolitt:.
actinolite, cpidote, serpentine. chlorite and other nunerals of hydrothermal or metamorphic origin. These
minerals are much more resistant. to processes of
supergene weathering t.han the primary minerals. As a
result, they typically persist for a long time in the
weathered or soil horizons. These relic's must. be considereJ, From a pedogenetic standpoint, as Iithorelics
and not as alterorclics.
Point ifori17in
Lithorelic' can be formed at different levels of the
profile. At outcrop level, they can I'orm directly by
removal of rock Fragments from outcmps exposed at
the soil surlace. In this case, the lithorelics commonly
do not ex.hibit traces of weathering. In n-opical regions,
ho"vever, the lithorelics of malic or ultramallc origin
generally ex.hibit e\idence of near-surface ferruginous
weathering, or irnpregnatiuns that would not occur if
they had a different point of origin, within tl1E' lower
parL<; of the profile, for example. Where isolated from
tile outcrop. the lithorelics arc scattered down dl\:'
slopes and arc progressively incorporated into tIle
near-surface ho,-izon of soil, in which they Illa) represent a Sih'llificant ri'action of the coarse skeleton grain~.
This first kind of Lithorclics commonly exJlibits an
irregular and angular outline.
At the wCQlherin8Ironc, Iithorelics also can form by
the fragmentation and removal of unweat.hered or
irregularly weathered rock. This occurs at the base of
shallow profiles, in which the soil horizons are sub-
jected to sluw creep c1o""n the slopes under the inlluence of the gra\Cir:'. The rock fragments that are i.sobted
at thjs level are preferential I~' concentrateJ at the base
of tJle pedological hOI-izons. in which they can form a
coarse-grained deposit very similar to a stone l:i.ne*.
The lithorl'lics are commonly associated with coarse
fragments of quartz rele.lsed by tJle dismantling of
quartz veins that run across the parent rock.
A Iterorelics may be associated with IithoreJics of sirnilar origin. but they are soon Jc,tro)'ed by creep-related
movement, and their mineral content is incorporated
into the $Oil material; their identification then is nu
longer possible. Such Iithorclics commonl), ex.hibit a
more rounded shape than tile Iithorelics of the first category.
Lithorclic.' can still be formed within the alterires
themsel\'es, mainly where the parent rock is heterogeneous. The most weatherable part of the rock forms
alt.erites ancl soil materiab, whereas its most resistant
parts (e'9" veins, metamorphosed layers) remain
ullweathered aml suspended within the alterites or
even within the soil horizons. There, the} arc progressively reduced to small fragments, ancl quickJy incorporated ill the groundrnass of the alloterites and soil,.
In this case, thE" mineralogical composition and t.he textures of the lithorelics differ from those of the main
rock from which tllC' isalterites ancl soils were developed.
Rock fragments that are. temporarily maintained
within isalteritic horizons of identical origin cannot be
consided as true lithorelics because they wjJl "soon" be
weathered, in a normal manner, and rendered unrecognizable as separate entities once integrated into their
surrowHliTlg isalteromorphic matrix. In contrast,
where the weathered layen are perturbed a.nd transfonnC'd intu alluteritic horizons, the unweathercd
relics can be considered as true lithorelics, since they
are now observed within a modi tied matrix that is not
their O\o\1l original matrix. Tlus third kind of alterordic
exhibits ill some cases a katamorphous texture, \~ith
cracks, irregular outlines, protruding parts <\Ild embaymenh.
III u r r iw JOil}
The boundaries of the Uthorelics generaUy follow
inter mineral contact planes and transmineral Hssures
and cracks. Th.is explains their sinuous and angular
habit. which can persist as long as these relics have not
suffered appreciable displacemcnt or weathering. The
Iithorelics, where they occur in a near-surface horizon
with whic'h they have not necessarily a direct affinity,
are generally of' allochthonous origin. Their outlines
arc then more or less abrupt or rounded, according to
the processes of transport (colluvial or alluvial) to
which the lithorelics wert' subjected, and according to
the extent of their displacement.
The sharpness of their outlines depends also Oil
the gr,lin size of th(' original rock, on the hardness of
iLs mineral constituents, and on their physicaJ properties. Fine-grained rocks usually give, at a macroscale,
more rounded liulordics hav'ing a smoother outline
than the coarse-grained ones. The general shJpe of the
lithorelic also depends on the texture of the rock and
on the orient.ation of its mineral grJin~. Uthorelics
from mica schists and gneisscs tend to be elJipticoll,
whereas basalt.>, granites and oUier lUloriented igneous
rocks give uneven lithorelics, without any particular
shapes. The smoothness of u]eir outline depends on the
size of the mineral grains in the parent rock,
Among the most common rocks, basic and ultrabasic rocks, owing to their intermediate grain-size and
to their equant textw-e, and gncisses and amp!liboJites,
owing to their layered and oriented textures, arc the
rocks that most easily gi,'e rise to lithorelics. GrJnites,
in contrast, do not easily give rise to Jithorelics for
tllree main reasons: (i) the relatively coarse grain-size
of most granites does not allow smaU polymineralic
relics to be formed (boulders and pebbles an" more
usually eneow1tered), (ij) the slow and progressi"e
weathering of the feldspar-group minerals does not
allow the formation of a sharp \oveathering fronl and of
polymineralic relics with sharp margins, and (iii) ule
mineralogical composition of products of their w\"athering does not allow the eve.ntuaJly formed alterorelics
to be maintained for a long time as distinct and identifiable uniL~.
ALTEROREUCS AFTER GRANITIC ROCKS
350
mas. Moreover, these brittle or unstable argilllplasmas promote the rapid disaggregation of the
granitic relic. The alteroplasmas are easily integrated with, or confused with, the surrounding
pedoplasma.s; the residual quartz grains, commonly isolated in the original granitic rock.. are
then considered as skeleton grains and not as
fragments of alterorelics.
Gneisses, with their wcll-imbricated and linked
quartz grains, readjly give lithorelics whose elliptical
shape is promoted by the oriented texture of the original rock. Schists and other fine-grained rocks, such as
volcanic tuffs derived from a volcano-sedimentJl\'
basement, arc easily impregnated and induratcd by
iron oxyhydroxides derived from the weathering of the
sWTounding rocks; the)' commonJy givc sufflcientl),
resistant lithordics, or even alterorelics, to be maUltained w;thin the near-surface horizons.
According to the horizon in wbich they Jre uriginally embedded (autochthonous relics) or in which
they were depOSited (aUochthonous relics), the
lithorelics (which, by definition, are lU1weathered fragments of rock) may undergo rather different evolu
tionary sequences.
Where the lithorelic~ are observed rI"irhin PQIl~f
Jel'e.!oped isalrerir,es, the normal evolution of the necessarily autochtllOnous lithorelics leads to their complete
weathering aocl to their textural integration in the
alterite, In tllis way, if the prevailing conditions of
weathering are not modified, uley will no longer be
distinguishable from the ptedously formed surrounding alteromorphs.
These hthorelics, which merely represent a locaUy
delayed stage of weJthering owing to a slightly different mineralogical composition or to Jvoidance by the
weathering front, generally do not exhibit a sharp and
distinct margin, because the grains located at their
periphery have undergone incipient weathering.
Observed at tht' level of the isalterite, these ephemeral
lithorelic.s have evidently not been displaced, and they
are embedded in their original matrix.
Where tllC' lithorelics an:~. obser vcd al the level cif
allol-erires, the)' are only temporarily "avoided" units
that llave been slightly displaced by gravity or by colluviation along the slopes. They undergo the same fate as
the relics that were maintained in the lower isalteritic
leveJ on the short term, but witll some delay.
Subjected in Uie upper levels to weathering
processes different From those prevailing in the lower
levels, these relics react differentially, in such a way
that different secondary minerals may appear as <l
result of weathering of tbe primary residues they contain. Tbe primary minerals of such alterorelics can in
this way produce two or more seconcLal-y minerals, and
they give rise to polyphase alteromorphs.
Whatever the isalteritic or alloteritic level in
which they are encountered, these particular types of
lithorelics will not be considered further in the
remainder of this chapter.
Vlhere soiJs and weathered hOl-izons are locally
cleared away by erosion, outcrops of unweathered rock
Illay become exposed at the surface. Under these ne\v
conditions, nwnerous lithoTelics are released (ram the
rocks by physical disaggregation, and are mixed
together, vvithin the upper-slope colluvium or within
the lower-slope alluvium, witb gravels, sands, alteroplasmas and pedoplasmas. New pedogenetic processes
operate, and produce. new soil horizons in the upper
part of these colluvial or allm-ial materials.
This process of lithorelic formation is certainly the
most emcient and the most vvidespread. All lithorelics
have been displaced, and the distinctness of their
shapes largely depends on the distances travelled from
their Sl.>urce to the final site of deposition. The
recorded variations in the petrographic nature of the
Iithorelics are rather representatiyc of the petrographic
diversity in the watershed, but the)' do not corTespond
necessarily to the rock type obseryed at tbe base of theproflle studied_
In petrographically heterogeneous protlles, the
lowering of the weathering front can also avoid, well
above the weathering front and up to the pedological
horizons, at least on the short tenn, rock fragments or
rock layers that are mor(' resistant to the weathering
processes. These are generally rocks of ditJercnt mineralogical composition or of dJllcrent grain-size, such
as, for example, mineral veins, metamorphosed wallrocks, and microgranular beds. These more resistant
rocks, if tbey survive to become incorporated into the
near-surface horizons, are subjected to processes of
physical disaggregation. Small volumes of rocks are
progressively isolated from therr mab'ix by the devel-
PART
4:
351
liTHORELICS
448,449
llTHOREL/C
FORMATION
ON ULTRABASIC ROCK
Deprh: 2.8 m
Objective: x 2.5
1.0
0.0 mm
352
LITHORELlCS
450
lITHORELlC
FORMATION ON
ULTRABAS1C ROCK
PPL
1,0
0.0 mm
451
lITHORELlC
FORMATION ON
ULTRABASIC ROCK
PPL
'I
I 1
taken
from the same upper level of t.he
profile, show tvvo steps of formation
of isolated altero-lithoreJic~ formed
from an ultrabasic rock, mainly
composed of clinopyroxene, magnetite and mjJl0r amowHs of hornblende and mica. Most p)TOXene
grains are partly weathered to a
smecritic clay mineral. The rock is
li'actun~d by many cW'ved and anastomosing cracks, which mainly 1'01-
353
liTHO RELICS
452,453
FORMATION
OF L1THORELlC
OF GRANITIC ROCK
1.0
0.0 mm
"
of microcline
includes ,cv'eral small cuhe-dral
crystals of pJagiodase and anhedral
crystals
of biotitc. ll\t' microclim>
;
host is chemically unv\'eathcred,
whereas t.he grains of plagioclasc
were largely replaced by very Hnc
particles of "sericite" (appearing
pale grey in PPL); the "sericitc"
formed during an early stage of
hydrothermal alteration. The grains
of biQtitc were partly converted to
vermiculite
meso-altcromorpbs
e.xb.ibiting intramineral depOSits of'
iron oxyhydroxidcs along some of
~
354
LITHORELICS
454,455
FORMATION
OF L1THOREUC
OF GRANITIC ROCK
ro
0.0 mm
I I
I.
'"
I I"
,,,,
illus-
PART
4:
355
lITHORELlCS
456,457
Lithorelic temporarily
preserved within
isaJteritic material
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
ha~ been
weathered into a srnectitic
secondilT)' material near the base uf
the weathered profile, at more than
10 meters depth. Only a few islands
of partly weathered material are
stiU recognizable in the upper parr
of the prollle because, in slightly
metamorphosed parts of th.e rock,
large prismatic CTySW]S of clinop)'roxene commonly ilTe surrounded
by plagioclase grains, v.".hich have
undergone replacement by a high.ly
356
naIlts of c1inop)'Toxene are identifiable within the dark brown material. The alterorelic is distinguished
from the normal a.lteromorphs of
the "'e'athered rock only by the fan
that the secondary products are not
similar in the lo\'\'er and in the upper
parts of the pr06le.
LITHORELlCS
458,459
Lithorelic temporarily
preserved within
isalteritic material
CUNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
.I
illll~
PART
-1:
357
LITHO RELICS
460
SOIL ON
CUNOPYROXENITE
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
461
SOIL ON
CUNOPYROXENITE
PPL
I I
shows a
lithorelic exhibiting a poikilitic*
texture. A large oikocr)'st* of
greenish
brown
hornblende
encloses many chadacr)'sts* of
c1inopJToxene and some grains of
magnetite. All minerals of the
Iithorelic are unweathercd, and its
shape is ilTegular. not rounded. its
margins following tbe previous
inter mineral boundaries of the
rock-forming
minerals.
The
lithoTelic is partly surrounded by a
dark brown clayey coating. -Illree
well-rounded iTon oxyhydroxide
nodules are visible (/\2-3, E 4) in
358
LITHORELlCS
461,463
:::r'~""'''=''':lI1:'' . . . . .~.~r--T~
-r-------.------"
...
LITHO RELIC OF
ULTRABASIC ROCK
Alluvial deposit
Koua Bocca. Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 3.2 m
Objective: x 4
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
, , I 11 l
weathered
lithorelic is mainly composed 01'
a large oikocryst* of hornblende in
which pyroxcne and magnetite are
randomly distributed. The high
resist,1l1Cl? of both hornblende and
magnetite to weathering explains
ill
the hornblende host-crystal. A granostriated b-fabric is largely developed in the surrowlding S-miltrix.
359
LITHORELlCS
464,465
LITHORElIC OF
GRANITIC ROCK
buried in soil
Koua Bocca. Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 1.\ m
Objective: x 1.6
PPL and XPL
r
-
"I'
of granitic origin containing many mineral grains:
guartz, plagiodase converted to
fine--grained wILite mica. microcline
360
0.0 mm
A
Among dll the types of alterordics that can be
observed in the soil horizons, ;:l1terorelics of aJ10chtbonous origin, which have been displaced either as
lithorelics, or as mechanically, resistant altemrelic; '
must be distinguished frorn the alterorebcs of
autochthonous origin, which are isolated residual fraoments of' an in 5ill~ alterite that has progressively be~
invaded and replaced by a newly formed plasma of
pedological origin.
Autoel1tllOoOU altcrorc1ics
AJteroreLics observed in soils do not always have
an a.\lochthonous origin. Most of them are mai~tained
in siw, and without anv displacement. This occurs by
insulation of relict vol~mes of aJterites within a ped;logic-al maO-ix formed relatively recently. The pc-dogenetic processes at work completely modify the
inherited structures and textures of the alteroplasmas,
replacing them by pedoplasmas whose mineral contents can differ quite significantly from those of tile
lower alterites.
The alterite. is then replaced, along a network of
fissures, by a neoplasma, generaJly more argillaceous,
"ith which it contrasts strongly in color, porosity and
microtexture. Digitate textures are progressively
extended, widened, and interconnected; variously
shaped and sized alterorelics are progressively individ-~
uaJized within this neoplasma, whose \'olume becomes
more and more sit,rniucant. The replacement seems to
take place at a constant volume, and the alterorelics so
created mai11tain, within the neoplasma, the position
aDd orientation that they originally exhibited witllln
the continuous alterite. The alterorelics are irregularly
shaped or cavernOus, with lllany embayments and
361
362
Pedorelics generall)' consist of compact, more-orless indurated materials, sucb as papules*, miscellaneous concretions and fragments of ousts, especially if
they have been transported. The state of their preservation depends, 011 the one hand, on their compactness
and on their mechanical resistance tl) the processes that
have promoted their release and displacement. On the
other, it depends on their chemical and mineralogical
compositions relati\c to Ull" geochemical equilibrium
prevai.ling i.n the environment of their deposition. The
pedorelics form an important chapter of the micromorphology of soils sensu stricto. More information
about them is very well presented in books on Pedology. The topic is not discussed further in this chapter,
which focusses on the miLTomorphology of weathered
minerals and alterorel;cs.
CHAPTER
15
Evolution
Pro e'
11'1. I d I:
)f di.wourenotioll
Weath
~rabj/it.Y
Not all primary mineraJs a.re easily reduced to isolated residual grains capable of persistence until the
surficial horizon is attained. Very weatherable minerals.
such as olivine- and pjToxene-group minerals, are
commonly completel)' \veatJlered in the lower part of
the profiles. Thus they ha\T little likelihood of persisting in an unweatJlered state in the upper horizons of
soil. Only very active processes of erosion, acting on
tJlin alterites, will promote a local inLTease in t11e proportion of such minerals in the soil horizons. Nevertheless, these minerals may occur if, at an early stage of
hypogcne alteration, they were surrounded by a protective layer of a resistant secondary mineral (e'8"
amphibole, serpentine, "iddingsite''), which protected
tJlem from further weatJlering. They are in tius case
"armored" gTains. These very weatherable minerals
may also be observed in the special case of andosoils
and aJterites developed from deposits of recent volcanic ash. There, euhedral crystals of oLivine and augite
may be deposited together with particles of volcanic
glass, and they Illay thus persist in ao unweathered state
for somt' time after their deposition.
The most commonly observed minerals to occur
as isolated grains within the pedoplasmas are minerals
of intermediate weatherability, sucb as members of the
amphibole and epidote groups (of metamorphic or
hydrothermal origins, usuaJly), and the h.igbl}
unweatherablt' minerals, of miscelJaneous origin, such
as quartz, tourmaline, rutile, zircon, staurolite, kyanite
and, for some compositions, spine! and garnet.
Directly derivecl from the disaggregation or the
lithorelics, these minerals exhibit sizes, shapes and outlines comparable or very si.milar to those that they
exhibited in the original rock.
In contrast, the weatherable minerals derived
from the disaggregation of alterites and alteroreLics are
genera.lly finer grained and exhibit shapes and outlines
that they did not exhibit in the original rock. Their outlines are generally cavernous (feld.spars) or denticulate
(pjTOXene, ampllibole), their cleavages are emphasized
(micas), their mechanical resistance has strongly
decreased. and they disintegrate, contributing to the
finer grain-sizes. Thei.r particular sbape, tJleir habit, and
the presence of traces of iron oxyhydrox.ides, and or
alteroplasma~ in the fissures, pores and cleavages.
clearly distinguish them from the residual minerals
directly derived by disaggregation of lithorel.ics or of
unweathered parent rock (denticulate or cavernous
residues rersus cleaved or angular fragments).
CH I:M H.':
L WEATHER]
364
Composite "aJtero-Uthorelics" after pyroxenebearing rocks, origina.lly composed of pyroxenerich residues surrounded by their smectitic
secondary producLS (formed in the lower levels
of the profile). have their content of secondary
minerals modified by the development of iron
oxyhydroxides (formed by weathering of the
remnants of pyroxene). These producLS rim the
internal fringe of the banded network of smectite.
This smectite finally disappears to give neoformed
iron oxyhydroxides.The composite origin (pyroxene. smectite) of the two types of iron-rich secondary products is generally distingUished only
with difficulty if no intermediate stages of weathering are available. In some cases, iron compounds
directly derived from the pyroxene remnants, for
example. exhibit a regular orientation of their
optical features, which does not appear in the iron
compounds derived from the later degradation of
the smectite-bearing producLS.
ALTERORELlCS
c
:--'_I:Il""lI_
466,467
AlTEROREUC OF
UlTRABA.5IC ROCK
1.0
0.0 mm
I
11' of clinopyroxenite,
. with most of the primary grains
of c!inopyroxene partially weathered to a smectitic clay in a phylloporo-alteromorph. All the particles
of clay, which are formed from the.
same pyroxene grain, exhibit the
same' crystaJlographic direction.
oriented parallel to the Z axis of the
c1inopyroxe.ne. Small denticulate
fra.gments of c1inopyroxene arc still
emhedded and visible in the clayrich alteromorph (see the more
detailed pbotomicrograph on the
365
ALTERORELlCS
468
ALTERORElIC OF
ULTRABASIC ROCK
PPL
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
366
ALTERORELlCS
469,470
SOIL ON
CLlNOPYROXENITE
0.6
0.4
02
0.0 mm
I
containing several
grains of quartz surrounding a
grain of feldspar (C2-3) that is partiall~' weathered and replaced by
deep brown i!"On oxyhyJroxides.
The blTains, several of wbich exhibit
the
characteristic
unduJatorv.
extinction of' deformed quartz, arc
not chen:lically weathered, but sevcI'al of them are fractured. The
intnmineral fissures and the
intramineral cracks are Filled by
PART
4:
367
ALTERORELlCS
471,472
IRON CRUST
DEVELOPED ON
TREMOLlTE-RICH ROCK
1.0
' .
I t ) 11
contains large
alterorelics of partly weathered
ultrabasic rock, now mainly composed of crystals of tremohte
formed at the expense of pyroxene,
and ver), small interstitial grains of
magnetite. The original texture is
perfectly recognizable in most of
the nucleus. All needles of tremolite
are surrounded by a thin rim of iron
oxyhydroxides forming a boxwork
texture (septo-alterol1lorphs), in
the cells of which denticuJate remfunts of tremoJite are recognizable
368
0.0 mm
ALTERORELlCS
Cl
473,474
ALTERORELlCS OF AN
ULTRABASIC ROCK
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
' ",
11
I of iron-enriched
kaolinite-rich isalterite, di\ided
into numerous smaLler alterorelics,
isolated within a reddish brown
pedopJasma. The pcdoplasma irregularly invades and replaces the
isalterite along numerous ret.icular
Gssurcs. Several fissw-es are more
recently formed, a.nd not yet surrounded by the reddish brown
pedoplasma. The alterorelics are
progressively replaced along more
and more numerous fissures, and
their size decreases regularly from
PART
4:
369
ALTERO RELI CS
475,476
ALTERORElIC OF
ULTRABASIC ROCK
l'"
-
, I I,!
II \'iew of l.he contact
ar,'a
alllong
lour
altfrnrc!ics ,Hld their surroundin(1
::,
rerldish hrown Ilcdopl.brna, at a
le"el in thc I)rulilc in which slight
inuur.1tion has o,'curred, The Ilrofik
is the same as that 01' tlw cJrlier
[)hotograph", A, goethitl'-riC'il concx
is ubscrved arouml the upper
altcrnrelic: that ,'ortex i, dC\'t'lu[lcd
h~ epigenetic rt'plaCl'mcnt at the
eXI)cnse of l.he altcrorclic itself. This
I-irst-formed indurated l:Jart acb as a
resistant body against which the
370
0,0 mm
ALTERORELlCS
477
ALTERORELlCS OF
VOLCANO-SEDIMENTARY ROCK
Akouekouadiokro,
Toumodi, Cote d'lvoire
Depths: 1.8 m
Objective: x 1.6
PPL
r"OO~
:
478
ALTEROREUC OF
VOLCANO-SEDIMENTARY ROCK
Akouekouadiokro,
Toumodi, Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 1.1 m
Objective; x 1.6
PPL
11
1~
.l~
\",-ere
or
or
371
ALTERORELlCS
479
ALTERORELlCS OF
CLlNOPYROXENITE
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
show~
372
ALTERORELlCS
480
ALTERORELlC
OF GNEISSIC
CALC-ALKALlNE
GRANITE
Akuvikro, Dimbokro,
Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 1.8 m
Objective: x 6.3
PPL
OJ
;
0.2
~ 0.1
~ 0.0 mm
I..
r
PART
4:
373
ALTERORELlCS
A.
481,482
IRON CRUST
ON GLlMMERITE
0.6
0.4
0.2
- 0.0 mm
is developed at
the cxpense of gJimmeritc, a
fJiotite-rich rock rhat is localh'
developed, in the Kaua Bocca ultramark intrusion, in the contact areas
with the sw-rounding ~;ounger granite. NIt)Sl of tile original texture of
this mctaSOn1atic rock was obscured
duri ng the successive stages of
weat.hering and during the stage of
induration by imn OX)'lJydroxides as
a result of replacement. Ne\'crthe-
374
ALTERORELlCS
483,484
QUARTZ GRAIN
IN OLD IRON CRUST
Akouekouadiokro,
Toumodi, Cote d'lvoire
Depth: I m
Objective: x 1.5
PPL and XPL
10
0.0 mm
'
I
'I, I .
illustrate a monomineralic grain of
quartz embedded in hard iron crust.
The mineral seems "cry strongly
corroded by slow dissolubon. lts
originally smooth and dliptical
iso!akd in thl' plane of the thin section, ,m:: l:l.'1'tainlv [inked in the tllinl
dimension to other Cmbilynll'I1t>.
375
ALTERORELlCS
485,486
RESIDUAL MINERAL
GRAIN
0.6
0.1
0.2
O.Omm
emhedded in the
J
upper part of an old fcrrallitic
soil that capped the uPI)Cr parts of
the slope. This alterorelic contaim a
large grain of a partially "icldingsitized" olivinc. Most of the grain ha,
been replaced hy compact and
homogeneous ~iddingsit~" (Cl,
D3), whereas a residual part of the
olivine nystal \\'.,s cut by an irregular network 01' banded "iddingsite"
running along some of the orig1Jal
protoclastic Ij'actures (01-2, 05).
Some isolated ,llld unaltered rem-
376
alteromorph was replaced by a ferruginous altcromorph, which maintains all the previously inherited
textural features. This altcrorclic is
now associated \\-ith many other
pcdo-, altero- and lithore1ics (not
shown in tllC photograph).
ATLAS OF MICROMORPHOLOGY
or
ALTERORELlCS
487,488
RESIDUAL MINERAL
GRAIN
Intermediate slope
Colluvial soil
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvoire
Depth: I m
Objective.; x 2.5
PPL and XPL
1.0
0.0 mm
I
,I I, '.
of weathered biutite - vermiculitc kaolinite was further replaced by
dark brown iron oxvhvdroxides.
The phylloporo-altcroTI1orpb aspect
of the me.so-alteromorph has been
well pre~cn'ed during the successive' stages of weathering. Its partial
incluration by the ferruginous components has allowed the aiteromorph to survive its transport and
deposition. The characteristic internal phyl!o-pores of the alteramorphs after micaceous minerals,
377
CENTRIPETAL CORnrlC TI
Praces oJ induration
and cc.\tural em/ution
AFter the First stage of weathering, or concurrently with it, a cortification of the alterorelie may
develop jn a centripetal manner. Compounds of iron,
generally gocthite, completely replace the entire
.1lterorelic, pores included. Tne alterorclie is gradually
rendered more and more compact and hard as the boxworks and porous textures formed by weathering are
ohscured and destroyed. first along its periphery, then
throughout the alterordie.
Thi~ l'irst centripctal proc<::'~ of internal cortiFication result~ in a compact, homoge-neous and generally
untextured hard material. The textw-es inherited From
the primary minerals, which have heen more or less
maintained in the altcromorphs, are delinitively lost. In
this way, the texhlred and recognizable altemyelics are
replaced by indurated and untextured nodules, whose
origin becomes less and less identillablc. Alteromorphs
of- different petrological origin can. as a result, be
re-placed by very similar nodules without any unique
distinguishing criterion. Only tbe ephemeral occurrence of (juartz grains or of ot.her resistant minel-als
allows the most important groups of rock to he distinguished frOJll onc another.
to
progre~ive
replacement
378
Relics of materials of organic origin, such as Cragments of charcoal, also can experience at least pdTtial
internal cortitlcation. The unaffected nucleus then
clearly maintains the cellular texture of the original
organic material.
Iron-rich sec0nJary minerals and aJteromorphs
also can resist subse(juent alteration, either because of
their original composition (as in the case of
"iddlngsitc'), or because of their late replacement in a
new environment (as for example iron-rich alternmorphs of kaolinite after biotite). AltllOugh they arc
isolated as residual minerals, they behave as polymineralie altcrorelics.
P dopla mation
379
CENTRIPETAL CORTIFICATION
489
AlTERORELlC AFTER
TREMOLITE-RICH
META-UlTRABASIC
ROCK
1.0
0.0 mm
490
AlTERORELlC AFTER
TREMOLlTE-RICH
META-UlTRABASIC
ROCK
or
380
CENTRIPETAL CORTIFICATION
491
ALTERORELlC AFTER
ULTRABASIC IGNEOUS
ROCK
[0
0.0 mm
491
ALTERORELlC AFTER
ULTRABASIC ROCK
1.0
0.0 mm
,r
1 I 'I 'I
I I
shows a
very advanced stag'" in the
replacement of the nucleus of an
alteromorph by a very compact
inner cortex formed by a centripcral replacement process tbat
promoted the formation of homogeneously textured areas r<?placing
most of the nucleus. Some grains of
magnetite and some vcry porous
islands or the original septoalteromorphs are tempOl'ari I)" preserved
in this an,a. Irregular patches of
dark brown material, con.trasting
381
CENTRIPETAL CORTIFICATION
491,494
POROUS NODULE
Superficial soil
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 1.2 m
Objective: x 1.6
PPL and XPL
r
-
I I
of compact
iron oxyhydroxides containing
many small irregular empty pores.
In contrast to the primary or secOndJTj; iron oxide (magnetite) that
is in cquilibriwn with the ncvvly
formed internal cortex, the quartz
grains al-e slolVl~' dissolved in such a
382
0.0 mm
CENTRIPETAL CORTIFICATION
495
ALTERORElIC AFTER
OllVINE-BEARING
ROCK
0.6
0.4
02
O.Omm
1
11.\ of the internal
centripetal cortex formed by
an epigenetic process at the expense
of a part of a nucleus composed of
many weathered minerals. The original texture is easiJy recognizable in
the loweJ' part of the nucleus,
whereas in its upper part, all septoalteromorphs after pyroxene have
be("n obscured by the replacement
procese-, giving risc to a homoge.
neous compact goethite-rich area.
Only resistant primary (magnetite)
and secondary C'iddingsite") minerals, which are in closer geochemical
e<juilibrium with the ferruginous
portion, an~ well preserved and
appear as isolated remnaJJts \\ithin
the more homogeneous goethitt"
rich matrix. Thl" external dark red
plasma is indurated by hernatite,
which leads to a hard iron crust. The
large grain of "iddingsite" after
olivinf', \~~lich is now converted to
goethite b)' the leaching of its sili
cate components, still exhibits the
inherited, homogeneously welloriented pattern of the original
"iddingsite", a~ well as the network
of protoclastic fractures that is very
characteristic of the original o;stal
of olivinc. The Ujddingsite" grain
383
CENTRIPETAL CORTIFICATION
496,497
IRON CRUST ON
UlTRABASIC ROCK
0.6
0.4
02
0.0 mm
, I
I ,
composed
mainly or a grain of goethitC'
originating From the late evolution
or a grain or "iddingsite" arter
olivinC'. The "iddingsitc" grain is
accompanied by a Few remnants of
alteromorphs after c.linopyroxene
and by small grailJS or magnetite.
The alterorelic is now surrounded
by a complex accreted cortex
whose color and mineralogical
composition \'ary and alternate
from the center to the external
boundary. Most of the surrounding
perJoplasma is also indurated,
mainly by hematite-dominant micro-,
384
CENTRIPETAL CORTIFICATION
498
ALTERORELlC AFTER
UlTRABASIC ROCK
~ ::
lOI
0.0 mm
I r,
offers a
detaikd ,ciew or an a\tcrorelic
after an ultrabasic rock in which the
opaque grains of primary magnetite
and the crypto-alteromorphs after
grains of pyroxene arc easilv recognizable. Parts of' the altcromOI"phs,
in the external part of the
alterorelic, wwe replaced by yellowish orange goethitc. The original
secondary pores have disappeared in
this first cortex, whereas in the central area of the alterorelic. this pore
space is stiJl preserved. This first
step of replacement by goethite was
thcn rolluwed bv the formation of
an w1duJating nlicrolaminated cortex, formed by accretion at tbe
expeml~ of the surrouncljng pedoplasma; such accumulation cortices
gi"c to thc alterorelic a progressively smoother t-xternal shape as
the thickening of the external cortex continues. This first microlami-
385
CENTRIPETAL CORTIFICATION
499
IRON CRUST ON
ULTRABASIC ROCK
10
0.0 mm
soo
GRAIN OF DETRITAl
QUARTZ
shows an
altcrorelic, most of
which is composed of a \;lrgc grain
of magnetite including, in its externJ] border, some phanto-alteromorphs at'ter pyroxcne and, in its
c.entral part, some small inclusions
of nuw wcathered green pJeonastc
lspinel). These magnetite and
plconaste cumulates ha\'<:.: I'ormed in
the lower part of the ultrabasic
intrusion, and thcy are consequently \"Cry Widespread in all
weathering prollks and iron crusts
uf' the Koua Bocca.
in'~'gular
386
CENTRIPETAL CORTIFICATION
SO I, 502
PEDORELJC
1.0
0.0 mm
'I'
11
1<
red papule
(C3) ""hose internal fabric is
formed by microlaminated clay
inftllings of a now -obli terated pre\1ou, void. Before its i.ncorporation
into the iron crust, the microlaminated clay coatings were concentricall y fissured, par tiall}' dissolved
and subsequently replaced by yellow gocdrite and black manganese
depOSits (C2, C4). This complex
pedorelic is stjll embedded in its
original isalteritic matrix, which is
387
CENTRIPETAL CORTIFICATION
S01,S04
FRAGMENT
OF CHARCOAL
0,6
0,4
- 0,2
0,0 mm
'
I'"
are fre-
388
stre~.
De e/(Ipmenr
"
11 an accretion COrll'~
These
pressure-induced
cutans
(stress
of the
nodule progressively
increases.
389
390
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
SOS,S06
NODULES AND
S-MATRIX
in a soil developed at
an intermediate level
of a slope
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.8 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL and XPL
1.0
0.00101
T '
nodules
are .embedded in a smectiterich argiUaceous S-matrix of a soil
developl:d on ultTabasic rock at an
intermediate le,-d of a slope. The
matrix contains few grains of detrital guartz 'lnd rare remlla.nts of
heavy mincrak This hori:wlI COIItains numerou~ noduiC's of variom
origin, but the nuclei formed at the
expense of ultrabasie rocks are
more numerous thall those formed
at the expense of gnnite.
391
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
507,508
NODULES AND
SMATRIX
in a soil developed at an
intermediate level of a
slope
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvolre
Depth: 0.5 m
Objective: x 1.6
PPL and XPL
['0
I I
I'
,!
of the horizon in
which the nodules are ver)' abundant and the \"01 ume of thl" Smatrix is as a result much less
important, the granostriatC'd hirefringence.fabric may extend to all
parts of the mao-i.x, as shown i.n
thl~sc photomicrographs. In this
Case, the peripheral tlssures usually
observcd, which normally follow
the external margin of the nodules, .
392
0.0 mm
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
S09,SIO
NODULES AND
S-MATRIX
in a soil developed at an
intermediate level of a
slope
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvoire
Depth: I m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL and XPL
1.0
0.0 mm
T'
fI
'I
of
the interstitia.l IIssures and
pores, whose early stages of formation is illustrated in the previous
photomicrographs, results in the
appearance of large irregular pores,
principally distributed in the widest
volumes or matrix. This preferentially distributed internal erosion
results in the preservation of' the
compacted parts of the matrix
located in the narrow spaces
between adjacent nodules. The nodules are finally joined together b)'
braces or relict S-matrix, with simulation of' J arjuric* cJistribution
(Stoops & Jongnius \ 975). The
resulting texture also <.;xhihits some
similarity to the textures observed
in some or the iwn crusb to be
descrihed later (sce photomicrugraphs 548 and 549, for example).
If one inlagines a replacement of the
irregular interstitial pores by more
393
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
il
511,512
CORTIFIED NODULES
at an intermediate level.
in soil
Koua Bocca. Cote d'!voire
Depth: 1.1 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL and XPL
1.0
0.0 mm
nodules
contain a well-developed cortoeX around their nucleus. These
nodules are embedded in a sur
rO\lnding argil1aceous S-matrix.
with many graim of detrital guarV:.
These photomicrograf)hs are meant
to illustT,ltl' the regular peripheral
394
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
S 13, S 14
CORTIFIED NODULES
in a soil developed at an
intermediate level of a
slope
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 1,1 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL and XPL
1.0
0,0 mm
"
corrified nodules are embedded in rJ1C
argillaceous S-matrix of a soil developed at an intermediate part of a
slope, The outside of the nucleus
and rJle irreguJarities of the cortex
of ilie central nodule show that
these nodules were formed higher
on
slope before being t-ransported and deposi tecl at a lower
level. All the nodules pho-
uw
'"
395
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
515,516
POLAR SECTION
OF A CORTIFIED
NODULE
1.0
0.0 mm
. show
the "deformed" texture of a
wdJ-formed cortex as it can appear
if it is cut, according to a polar section, by lhe plane of' the thin section. The regular and constant
thickness of the successin~ laminae
of thl: cortex, such as they normaJly
appear ill an equatorial section, are
apparently deformed in a more
excentric seL1:l0n: the mOre internal
the observed lamina, the thicker it
appear;; in the s('ction. Theoretically, only an equatorial section will
be able to show cortex laminae with
their true thickness, and the nucleus
396
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
517
ACCRETION CORTEX
DEVELOPED ON
ALTERORElIC
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
518
ACCRETION CORTEX
DEVELOPED ON
ALTERORElIC
PPL
'
I1
show
ho\-v alterol-elics, exhibiting
either a rcgu lar or an irregular
shape, can be surrounded by successive laminae of the cortex, which
are progressively more and more
circular in section. The first photomicrograph shows a subequant
nucleus consisting of an ultrabasic
alterorelic surrounded by the regularly concentric laminae of a thick
accretion (centrifugal) cortex. Only
PART
4:
397
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
519,520
ACCRETION CORTEX
DEVELOPED ON
ALTERORELlC
1.0
0.0 mm
398
or
or
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
521
ACCRETION CORTEX
OF GOETHITE
Iron crust
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 1.2 m
Objective: x 10
PPL
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
522
COMPOUND CORTEX
OF GOETHITE AND
HEMATITE
Iron crust
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvoire
Sampled at soil surface
Objective: x 10
PPL
Pili
'1
tl'
shO\r\"
XPL.
The second photnmicrograpl1
shuws the thin and undulating
microlaminations 01" goethite that
are irregularly interstratiFieo between thick macro laminations 01"
hematite, wluch origin;)tc From the
incorporation of shcUs of plasma
from th", sur1-ounding matrix.
399
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
523
ACCRETION CORTEX
DEVELOPED ON
ALTEROREUC
PPL
0.6
0.4
.- 0.2
0.0 mm
II'
1 11 shows d
grain of guartz that was trapped
by and partially incorporated,
simultaneously, into the cortex. of
two nearly tangential adjacent nod-
400
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
524
ACCRETION CORTEX
DEVELOPED ON
ALTERORELlC
PPL
10
0.0 mm
,.,'" I'
,;
shows a
\'ery thick cortex which, during
its development, incorporated
many grains of quartz originally
included in rhe surrounding Smatrix. Tht' quartz grains seem to
be more numerous at certain levels
of the growing cortex, and the
morc elongate grains seem to have
been rotated in a such a way that
they are now preferentially OJ'iented
parallel to the general Luninatjon of
tbe cortex. That rotation is due to
the directed pressures that develop
in the contact areas between the
hard resistant nodule and the soft
II'III
or
or
401
CENTRIFUGAL CORTIFICATION
S2S
ALTERORELlCS IN
COLLUVIAL MATERIAL
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
T .'
I I
of different
origin Jre \'i~ble in this photomicrograph. The right-hand one is
comlJosed of a nucleus formed at
the expense of an ultrabJsic rock,
whereas the one on the left formed
at the expense of a granitic rock.
'vVithin tbe first one. the alteromorphic texture is still evident, with it.'i
opaque grains of magnet;te and its
phylloporo-alteromorpbs
after
oh \'ine and c1inopyroxene now
replaced hy iron oxyh.vdroxides.
The original textwT of th.is first
alterorelic is not modified by the
weathering process, \\'hich has
replaced the secondary silicate minerals by iron oxyb~'droxides. The
402
The thickness of the cortices is related to the claymineral content (mainly the content of smectitic clay)
of the surrou.nding internoduJar matTix. [I) the soils of
the upper part of the toposequences*, where kaolinite
predominates, or in the yer)' porous or very sandy
near-surface horizons, pressure constraints are minor
around the nodules, and the cortices are rdatively thin,
or ilTegular, or even nonexiste.nt. [n the more compact
lower horizons, with h.igher proportions of swelling
clays, the constraint cutans and the derived cortices arc
uhiquitous and l11uch trucker.
The thickn",s of these stress cutans* and cortices
is also inversely proportional to the distJ.nce bet>veen
two neighboring nodules. The oriented plasmas, \yb.ich
UJ)iformly sWTound the nodules (granostTiatcd b-fabric*), arc cxtensi\'ely thickened in the .ueas where th.::
nodules are close together. In this way, both cutam
acqujre ovoid shapes whose apicl:'s are ultimately joined
togethc:.:r. A continuous envelope common to both nodules de\c1ops. The induratioD starts preferentially in
these areas of high stTess; as a result, both adjacent noc1ules may bt' surroUJlded, after developmcnt of a certain
thickness of discrete indi\idu.al cortex, b}' a single,
common cortex, which is 8-shaped where observed in
Ulin section. The stress is gradually higher, and the cortex thicker, as boul nodules involved are doser one to
the other.
403
404
FURTHER EVOLUTION
526
NODULE
DESTRUCTION IN AN
INTERMEDIATE SOIL
Depth: 1.2 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
1.0
0.0
mm
527
NODULE
DESTRUCTION IN AN
INTERMEDIATE SOIL
Depth: 1.2 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
taken
of the same sample, show the
beginning of the destruction of the
noduJes. The process begins by the
formation and th(, opening of concentric curved internal fissul'es.
which divide the nodule into successive shells and sepJratt' the
nucleus from its external cortex,
The cortex itself commonl)'
becomes broken up into sC\'eral
relics by the opening of radially dis, I
405
FURTHER EVOLUTION
518
DISCORDANT CORTEX
ON DISPLACED
NODULE
1.0
0.0 mm
519
DISCORDANT CORTEX
ON DISPLACED
NODULE
406
FURTHER EVOLUTION
530,531
BROKEN NODULES
IN A LOWER
COLLUVIAL SOIL
1.0
0.0 mm
11
I1
and broken nodules were deposited in the colIU\'ial material of the lo\\'cr slope,
on which recent soils developed.
The surrounding matrix contains
many uru;orted detrital grains at'
CJuartz. A granosrriated birefringence-fabric is clearly seen around
the spherical nodules (02), around
the broken nodules (A-B2), and
407
FURTHER EVOLUTION
532, 533
QUARTZ-BEARING
L1THORELIC
Superficial soil
Koua Bocca, Cote d'lvoire
Depch:O.3 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL and XPL
/,0
0.0 mm
of
quartz grJins in which some
grains exhibit the undulatory
extinction Ch<lr<lcterist ic of guartz
graiJ1s originating from veins or
from metamurphic intercalations.
The ,:xtemal shape of the quartz
part is very irregular, and exhibits
large embayments, which arc filled
hy a discontinuous cortex. Thi5 cortex probahly' formed, at lea.st in
part, at the expense of altero-
408
FURTHER EVOLUTION
S14,SlS
SANDY COLLUVlUM
["
0.0 mm
l 11. \1
11' ofa soil developed
on sandy colluvial-alluvial
material on the lowest part of the
slope, in the vicinil')' of the Tare
River. The coarse fi-action of the
area photographed contains an
alterorehc after clinopyroxen..ittC
(C3), reeognizabl(" by its porous,
brown septo-aJt("rbmorphs after
clinop)TOXene, with a few opaque
grains of magnetite. se\'er-aI morcor-less rounded cortit-led nodules
coa.rse grains are uniformly SlU'rounded by a thin cover of well-oriented argilJaceous material. This
particular feature of the soil mater,
ial corresponds to a c:-pical chitonic*
distrihution (Stoops & Jongerius
1975).
409
FURTHER EVOLUTION
536
ACCRETION CORTEX
DEVELOPED ON
ALTERORELlC
PPL
["
- "mm
537
ACCRETION CORTEX
DEVELOPED ON
ALTERORELlC
Objective: X 2.5
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
1 I. 'I
11' I
11
show
several alterorelics whose accretion cortex has become sufflciently
thick to be linked by bridges. These
are formed, firstly, by the jWKtion
at points of contact bet\n~eD two
adjacent nodules, and later, by se\"eral junctions with mon~ distant
nodules while the first-formed
410
FURTHER EVOLUTION
538,539
AUTHIGENIC
CONCRETION
1.0
- 0.0 mm
T'
n
J JI iI' <111 1 pedological feature shown in these illustrations
is an autochthonous orrhic* concretion formed by progressi\'e concentntion of .iron oxyh)'drox.idt;"s in a
part of a qUJ.rt2-rich S-matrix
deposited in the lowest parts of the
landscape. In these colluv:ial sandy
soils, subrounded autochthonous
concretions art' commonly associated with well-rounded allochthonous nodules CA2, AS), which
originate from the upper parts 01"
the slopes. The border- or the con-
411
FURTHER EVOLUTION
540,541
MIXED CONCRETIONS
x 1.6
PPL
['
0.0 mm
412
CJst:
t.hl'
t I\'(I
concretions.
FURTHER EVOLUTION
542,543
DESTRUCTION OF
INDURATED
FERRUGINOUS
CONCRETION
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
T '
prub;lbly entirely within the concretion when its \'olume was more
extensivc. Enlbrionic internal concentric ,1nd radial fissures run
aruund the center of the concre
tion; they ccrtainly will contribute
to it.s further disaggregation.
413
FURTHER EVOLUTION
544
MANGANESE
CONCRETION
Smeetite-rich soil on
lower part of the slope
Koua Boeea, Cote d'lvoire
Depth: 0.5 m
Objective: x 4
PPL
0.6
0,4
0.2
illustrates
a spherical manganese.rich
concretion, regularly surroundeu by
a thin l'elTuginnus cortex. The optically opaque part of the nodule.
which can be likeneu to a nucleus,
exhibits the characteristic rounded
shape of most manganese-rich con
actions formed ",irhjn the smectite-rich soils clen:loped on ba~;jc
and ultrabasie rocks, in the lower
p.lrts of the landscapes. Usua'lly,
basic and ultrabasic rocks have man
4/4
0,0 mm
C H.I
P T R
16
MI
ROMORPHOLO ,Y
416
The nu ]'i
fhe 1ClraC
I'
dissolution or by mechanical tr.msfer. Very porous volumes are the only result, and residual skeleton grains
arc freely distriouted in them.
vI plasma
or
DlSClI, SI
The \'arious textures of the plasmas commonly
observed in the most widespread iron crusts do not
necessarily result from successive steps of replacement
of the ground mass by v.1rious generations of plasmas
(due to pedoturbation, epigenetic replacement.';, dissolution, displacements of materi"l, intern<ll erosion and
infilling). These processes, although often invoked, do
not account for the variations in color, induration,
porosity, microtextures, geocnemical content and mineral assemblages of the different parts of the Iron
crusts, as observed in U1in sections, Instead, U1C appar-
417
S4S
EVOLUTION OF THE
RESIDUAL VOLUMES OF
PLASMA IN INDURATED
IRON CRUSTS
PPL
ro
0.0 mm
I
phowmicrograph shows a fragment
of iron crust transporteu dnJ now
bllried in colluyial material. The
fr'lgmcnt of crust i~ slightly
inuuratlxl, and it~ cohesion is due
only to the num",rol1S indl1rat",d
bridges to the aUjaccnt cortilleJ
nodules. These arc spherical, and
they exh..ibit a cortex whose thickness is related to the period of time
during which the lithorelics were
embeddeJ wiUlin a matri.x finorable
to their cortifiCJtion. That cortification has continued at the expense of
the S-matrix, and the last-formed
laminae have bridged. one after the
other, nearly all the nodules
obsC'rved here; the first-formed
bridges (A 1-2) arc slightly wider
than are the more recent bridges
(( I, (4), and several nodu les do
not seem bonded together (E4). In
th..is last case, the contact may be
beyond the plane of the th..in sce
418
546
EVOLUTION OF THE
RESIDUAL VOLUMES OF
PLASMAININDURATED
IRON CRUSTS
PPL
10
0.0 mm
and th("
next one, show, in sOllle detail,
the mi<::romorphology of the
bridges that bind adjacent nodules.
In particular, they illustrate the
morphology of the residual volumes
of plasma trapped with.in them.
This photograph shows \vide
bridges interconnecting at least four
nodules (1\1, B3, El and E4). The
largc'st nodule, on the left, appears
(in the plane of the thin section) as a
polar section of a still ,vider nodule;
only the external hematitc- and
goethite-rich laminae of its cortex
are. \isible, whereas its nucleus lies
beyond the thin section. The brgest
419
547
EVOLUTION OF THE
RESIDUAL VOLUMES OF
PLASMA IN INDURATED
IRON CRUSTS
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
T .
I
I
I I
shows a
complex bridge that binds two
main nodules (BI and ABCOES) to
a third ant" (02), which is just dsiblc- as a polar section in its external
cortex. The large triarlsJUlar bridge
shows the diJferent steps in the
incorpOl'ation and induration of the
interstitial matrix. At B3, scales of
420
548
EVOLUTION OF THE
RESIDUAL VOLUMES OF
PLASMAININDURATED
IRON CRUSTS
PPL
["
O,Omm
I I III
" I
"I I I
and the
next one, show the marromorphology of a \'ery porous iron crust
formed at the expense of an Smatrix that originally contained
many small allochthonous alterorelics. Parts of the concentric laminae of the cortex that denloped
arOlmd the altcrorclics may have
formed before deposition of the
nodules in the S-matrix. The small
size of the noduJes allows the photographs to show proportionally
wider parts of the iron crust, to
understand the dl/'onology of it5
formation, and to better \isualize
the succes,;ve inheritances and the
evolutionary steps or its components. At the begirming, the S
matrix occupied all the a~'ailablc
volume among the alteTorclics. The
Jocation or the geometric center of
all these alterorelics has probably
not heen modified during all the
421
549
EVOLUTION OF THE
RESIDUAL VOLUMES OF
PLASMA IN INDURATED
IRON CRUSTS
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
422
that these volumes really originate from the original S-matrix, and
not from the jnfjl ling of <l.lIochthonous material into previously
lormed empty coonected pores. In
this latter case, indeed, the inflllings
Oill
sso
EVOLUTION OF THE
RESIDUAL VOLUMES OF
PLASMA IN A NODULEPOOR, BURIED IRON
CRUST
PPL
['
0.0 mm
ss.
EVOLUTION OF THE
RESIDUAL VOLUMES OF
PLASMA IN A NODULEPOOR, BURIED IRON
CRUST
PPL
show
the evolution of remnants of the
S-matrix where nodules and mab'ix
exhjbit an open porphyric* distribution. The matrix can evolve over
long periods of time before being
d.ivided into isolated volumes hy the
growth of cortices and bridges,
formed around the included nodules. A cortex lint cle\'elops around
each nodule, and grows until the
distance between adjacent nodules
becomes sufficiently small to promote the (ormation of a bridge. A
423
CH.UTE R
17
Detailed field and labor(ltory studies have produced pertinent data about ule mechanisms involved in
1984)
01."'1 RlBLJTTO
IN THI;
NDSCAPE
426
427
<?lpisoJitic ballxit(
The fw"ther induration of the internodular matrix,
i.n the pisolitic material of either first or second generation, gi\'es way to piSOUlic bauxite by weathering of
the kaoli.nitc content of tbl" material and its replacement by bi:ihmite, in these finely porous and practically
anhydrous media. The iron hydroxides are converted to
hematite. The i.l1durated pisolitic bauxite of the first
generation and that ot' the second generation are not
identical. Whereas all the pisoLths are of equal size,
428
A1l.AS
The corr-ex
Ml'RQMORPH
The microtextures of undegraded pisolitic bauxite, of either the first or the second generation. are relatively simple and constant. The hematite content of
the pisoliths and of the interstitial matrix is commonJy
so high, about 20% Fe10j for the whole bauxite
(Boulangc 1984), that the bauxite appears practically
opaguc in thin secrion. It is necessary to greatly reduce
their thickness to enable the obsen'ation of the textural
details of both pisoliths and internocltdar matrix.
In contrast. these tex.tures are clearly observed in
iron-depleted bauxite (sce below), in which the F('10j
content decreases to about 4%.The Al 1 0 3 contents arc
50 and 65% in original and iron- depleted baLL'Lites.
respectively. The rotal SiOl contents, which arc related
to the amounts of primary and secondary minerals that
have survived the formation of b6hmite and the degradation of gibbsite, are less than 4 and I %, respectively
(BouJangc 1984).
Th nucleus
The nucleus is generally opague and apparently
homogeneous at the scale of observation a\'a.ilable in
optical microscopy. It is strongly inclurated, ancl its
429
contains some different features, such as relics of ironrich or baux.itic crust.~ and ferruginous or gibbsitebearing phaotomorpbic residues. There is no trace of a
gl'anoso'iated b-fabric*, The matrix also is bohmiterich, hut the hematite content is generally lower than
in the nucleus.
The detail of the microtextures of both pisoliths
and internodular matrix can only be clearly observed,
by optical microscopy and with thin sections of usual
430
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
552,553
RED ARGILLACEOUS
MATERIAL
0,2
0,1
0.0 mm
ill' ",r
"I
material was
sampled near the summit of the
plateau, downstream from the
autochthonous bauxite at the summit, and upstream with respect to
the (lrst observed outcrops of
allochthonous pisoLtic bauxite,
which occurs on tJle slopes. Its
topographic location, grain size,
mineralogical composition and
color arc such that this material can
be reasonably considered, before its
later induration, as the parent material of the pisolitic bauxite of the
PART 4 : UTHORELlCS,
AiTEJlORElICS,
431
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
SS4
PISOLlTIC BAUXITE
by B. Boulange
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
11 Illr I
.Ilr
I
and the
next onc, show a typical
pisolitb, of tbe type commonly
encowltcred in the bauxitic crusts
that cov<'r the lower part of the
slopes around isalteritic or alloteritic bauxite near the summit. In
t.he same way as a cortex may
develop around hard indurated nodules in hol'izons of loose clay-lich
soil (sec t.he previous photographs),
a cortex may also develop aroW1d
nuclei in the fe!Tallitic and soft red
material, at the e""pense of which
pisolitic bauxite is fOTmed. A typical
pisoJith is composed of a rowld
nucleus that is reguJarly surrounded
by a microlaminated cortex. The
pisoliths are included in a continuous and homogeneous mab-ix. In
undisturbed pisolitic bauxite, all
components, fluclei, cortices and
matrix are densely colored by
hematite impregnations, and very
thin sections must hl" prepared to
432
micro laminated
and generally
homogeneously textured all across
its thickness. Double or tripk cortices of slightly different coJor are
obsened in some instances, as in
the present case. In the typical
pisoliric bauxite, the nonporous
interstitiaJ matrix is homogeneous,
does not contain grains of den'ital
minerals, and is not separated from
the pisoliths by a peripheral fissure.
The matrix also is indurated, as are
the pisoliths. A1I these general
descriptions may have a number of
loca! exceptions.
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
sss
PISOLlTIC BAUXITE
PPL
l"
::
0.0 mm
11
'11 I
I shows the first
steps of the slow degradation of
a sample of pisolltic bauxite. Tbe
degradation may follow one of three
different pathways but, in most
cases, all three operate together: (I)
(Lscoloration by removal of the iron
content of the bohmite-bearina
material, (2) alveollzation of the'"
matrix by removal of loosened solid
material, and (3) crystallization of
gibbsite at the expense of the bohmire. The degradation is generally
more advanced in the interstitial
matrix than in the inner part of the
pisoLths. At the right edge of the
photograph, part of the dark red
PART
4:
433
PISOUTHS IN BAUXITE
556
PARTIALLY
DISCOLORED
PISOLlTIC BAUXITE
L.ower slopes of
Kokumbo,
South-central Cote
d'lvolre
Sampled at soil surface
by B. Boulange
Width of the label: 2 cm
557
PARTIALLY
DISCOLORED
PlSOLlTIC BAUXITE
PPL
["
0.0 mm
is a
macrophoto of a polished slice
of a sample of partially discolored
pisolitic bauxite. It shows theirregular distribution of the discolored
areas. The original bauxite was uniformly dark red in col or, and the
slightly darker pisoliths were- barely
distinguishable from their surrounding matrix (C3, D5). Most of
the bauxite has been discolored; in
these areas, both pisoliths and
matrix are equally discolored. In the
transitional areas, the mabix may
434
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
SS8,SS9
PARTIALLY
DISCOLORED
PISOLlTH
PISOLlTIC BAUXITE
Dagolilie. Lakota
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 0.8 m
Objective: x 1.6
PPL and XPL
["~
0.0
mm
I
""..
of piso]itic
bamite does not ahvavs follow
the boundary between the. pisolith
and the man"ix. Here, the discoloration front is abrupt and without
ally tnnsition. Both nucleus and
cortex are cut, but the convex shape
of the colared part of the nucleus
seems to indicate that the nuckus is
somewhat more resistant than the
cortex. The general macrotextures
are wcll preserved, a.nd the external
margin of the whole pisolith can be
easily visuali7.cd, both in it~ colOt"ed
435
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
560,56.
COMPLETELY
DISCOlORED
PISOUTIC BAUXITE
T'
shows a
I
spherical pisolith that has been
completely discolorecl, yet maintains its original textw-e. The surrounding matr"ix has been largely
replaced by a crystalliplasma of
gibbsite associated with residual
pores. The nucleus is small, and surrounded by a vcry thick composite
cortex COInIJosed of several successive layers in wh.ich the radial fissures are unequally distributed. The
outermost laminat~ are much less
fissured than the internal ones. The
436
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
562
ALLOGENIC PISOLITHS
IN BAUXITE
563
ALLOGENIC PISOllTHS
IN PISOllTIC BAUXITE
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
is a
macropboto of a polished slice
of a sample of bauxite containing
allogenic pisoliths. The heterogeneity of the included nodules (1\3, 85,
E5), and the presence of a complex
residual rounded fragment of a true
and typical pisolitic bauxite (C3).
show that all the nodular components have been transported before
being deposited in a soft matrix,
which Was later inclurated. The
dark-colored nodules are all well
rOlll1ded. Some of them are true
pisoliths with nucleus and cortex,
437
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
564
DISCOLORED PISOLlTH
PISOLlTIC BAUXITE
DagoJiJie. Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: I m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
1.0
I I
and the next
one shoV',- a subrounded pisolith
m which most or the external cortex is obviouslv di~cordant with
respect to a previously formed complex nodule, which is itself COl11posed of a broken nucleus
surrowlded by its own flnt cortex.
The external matrix is largely
degraded. The complexity of the
internal texture of the whole
pisolith corresponds to the complexity of its e\'(Jlution during the
successive steps of the erosion transport - deposition processes.
The chronological history can be
reasonably reconstituted by careful
examination of the successive
shapes and of the unegual distribution of its micromorphological
feahJres.
438
0.0 mm
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
565
DISCOLOR.ED PISOLlTH
PISOLlTlC BAUXITE
Dagolilie, Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: I m
Objective: x 2.5
XPL
1.0
0.0 mm
PART
4 : LITHORELlCS,
439
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
566
ALLOGENIC PISOLlTHS
IN PISOLlTIC BAUXITE
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
1.0
- 0.0 mm
567
ALLOGENIC PISOLITHS
IN PISOLlTIC BAUXITE
Objective: x 1.6
PPL
r~
OOmm
sho\\
fragmented cumplex nuclei
later surrounded by a cuntinuous,
unfissured cortex. The main characteristics of their internal textures
are comparable to those that have
been previollsJ~ dcscribeo. The
internal composite nucleus, which
consists of a fragmented true
nucleus surruunded bv its own cortex, is highJy fractured by an irregl.l-
440
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
568,569
ALLOGENIC PISOLlTHS
IN PfSOLlTIC BAUXITE
[10
0.0 mm
allogenic bauxite,
01'
441
PISOLlTHS IN BAUXITE
570,57.
ALLOGENIC PISOLlTHS
IN PISOLlTIC BAUXITE
r
~
the
first one in PPL and the second
one under XPL, show tl1c perfect
geometrical shape of a fragment of
pisolith. Its shape and the fact that it
fits tightly among other risoliths
obviously show that this feature has
not been formed in sieu, and that the
pisolitic bauxik is an allogenic
material, in which most pisoliths
were prev iously formed in a difFerent environment. The bohmite-rich
character of the fragmented pisolith
is well expressed by its cryptocrys
442
0.0 mm
I:GRADATlO.
Fir
.f
uUn
443
444
of feldspar. In this pMticular case, the term "pseudoalteromorph" can be used, since it is not an alteramorph but a particular textural feature that exhibits an
appearance very similar to that of a true alteromorph.
The downward transfer of bohmite and amorphous materials as detrital particles, in the profile or
along the slopes, may be sufficiently important to reach
the alveolar pores of the lower isalteritic or altoteritic
lateritic covers. These detrital accumulations of microor cryptocrystalline bohmite may later be dcstabiJized
and replaced by macrocrystalUne gibbsite. These accumulations may be obseFecl as infillings of pores even in
the horizons of unbleached pisol.itic bauxite, whose alveolar degradation has only reached the interstitial red
matri:x.. Accumulation:; of detrital crystals of gibbsite
are in some cases observed in pedotubuJes excav'atecl
bv/ soil microJ:auna within near-surface bauxite.
DEGRADATION
571,573
COMPLETELY
DISCOlORED
PISOllTIC BAUXITE
['
- '.'mm
,I,
I 11,
and evoJutionary features shown in these
photomio'ographs are wry similar
to those of the previous illustrations. The additional feature consists
in a crescent-shaped area of the cortex of the main pisolith, whose
bohmitL' content has been repJaced
by a residual pore surrounded by an
irregular and dendritic network of
gibbsite crystalliplasma. This crystalliplasma is in contact with the
surrounding matrix and with a
neighboring pisolith (A4---5), which
has been completely replaced by a
I'
445
DEGRADATION
S74,S75
DEGRADED PISOLlTH
BAUXITIC PROFILE
Dagolilie, Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 0.6 m
Objective: x 1.6
['
0.0 mm
show an
St,lgc in the textural
trans~ormation of a piso\ith. The
original textures of the nucleus and
of ib cortex are well presen-cd in a
large part of the pisolith, in ,,hieh
th<: network of lhsures and t1w laminated microtexture. of the cortex.
~d\'anced
446
DEGRADATION
576,577
DEGRADED PISOLlTH
BAUXJTIC PROFILE
Dagolilie, Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 0.4 m
Objective: x 1.6
PPL and XPL
show
Id
the highly complex microtextures that progressively develop
within a degraded, discoJor('d
pisolith. In this last step of degradation, the textures of both pisoliths
and interstitial matrix are modified
in such a way that (I) large pores
dc,'t'!op by dissolution or hy interual erosion, (2) part of the bohmite
content of the original bauxite is
replaced by gibbsite, either as a
coating around the pisoliths or as a
thin interconnected network of
447
DEGRADATION
578,579
DEGRADED PISOllTH
BAUXITIC PROFILE
Dagolilie. Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 0.4 m
Objective: x 1.6
PPL and XPL
f'"
-
448
0.0 mm
DEGRADATION
580
DEGRADED PISOllTH
BAUXITIC PROFILE
Dagolilie, Lakota.
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 0.4 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
1.0
0,0 mm
581
DEGRADED PISOllTH
BAUXITIC PROFILE
Dagolilie. Lakota,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 0.4 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL
"
il"
'\"
11
show
two examples of aver\'
advanced stage of the degradation of
a pisolith. Photomicrographs prepared with XPL are not shown
bccause the textural relics of the
b6hmite-l;ch parts are not informarivc (these areas arc nearly
isotropic), and because the gibbsiterich peripheral coatings, \Vitll tlleir
characterisric texture and distriburion, were previously illustrated.
The upper photomiCTograph shows
a rdati\'c!)' simple case of the
449
DEGRADATION
582,583
DEGRADED PISOLlTH
BAUXJTIC PROFILE
Dagolilie, Lakot3,
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 0.2 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL and XPL
1.0
sho",-
450
or
0.0 mm
or
DEGRADATION
584,585
DEGRADED PISOllTH
BAUXITIC PROFilE
Dagolilie, Lakota
Cote d'lvoire
Sampled by B. Boulange
Depth: 0.2 m
Objective: x 2.5
PPL and XPL
1.0
0.0 mm
451
DEGRADATION
586,587
DETRITAL DEPOSITS
OF BOHMITE
IN A LOWER BAUXITIC
HORIZON
0.6
0.4
0.2
- 0.0 mm
show
that the finely crystaJlized
bohmite, which was eroded and
transported from the degraded
upper pisolith-bearing horizons, can
be redeposited \\irJlin the pores and
cadties in the lower horizons of
isalteritic or alloteritic bauxite. The
aurJligenic matri:x, which is mainly
composed of well-crystallized
gibbsite associated with small
patches of more ferruginous composition, exhihits many large and
irregular pores, wbose \'olume is
"",11
452
or
DEGRADATION
588
MICROLAMINATED
DEPOSIT OF BOHMITERICH MATERIAL
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
T " 'I.
shows a
detailed but very partial view of
a large pore in a sample of bauxite.
The pore has been infilled by microlaminated deposits of bohmite. The
llrst-deposited microlamil1ae show
a repeatedly decreasing coloration,
simila.r to a graded bedding. The
Last-formed laminae are much
enriched in iron and denclritic manganese oxides. Large crystals of
bobmite are never seen in unmeta-
453
DEGRADATION
589,590
MICROLAMINATED
DEPOSIT OF BOHMITERICH MATERIAL
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
show
the later evolution of a microlaminated rleposit of bohmite-rich
material in an outcrop of balDute
expo~ed to conditions of superficial
weathering. The
bohmiterich
deposits are irregularly destroyed
by tJ1e formation of irregular pores,
channels and embajlnents, which
are soon ftiled by mesocrystaJline
gibbsite. These crystals of gibbsite
are formed at the ex-pcme of bohmite, which they replace by a hydration process. The areas of gibbsite
are perfectly colodess, and tJ1e iron,
454
DEGRADATION
591
ALVEOLlZED TYPICAL
PISOLlTIC BAUXITE
PPL
1.0
0.0 mm
l I1
I
red material
of the interstitial matrix of typical pisoLitic bauxites can be partially eroded; the residual pores can
be lattcr inIilled by aJ lochthonous
bohmite-rich materials that have
lost an appreciable part of their ferruginous componcnts, which leads
to a particularly sharp contrast
E
I
PART
4 : LfTHORElICS,
455
DEGRADATION
S92,S93
DETRITAL DEPOSIT OF
GIBBSITE CRYSTALS
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
456
Arw
DEGRADATION
594,595
DETRITAL DEPOSIT OF
GIBBSITE CRYSTALS
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
ill'
Ill' '11
show~
PART
4: LITHORELICS.
457
C tU
PTE R J
Few soil scientists, when studying their thin sections of soils, have the opportunity to observe such
well formed secondary materials. Comparison with
these photomicTogTaphs will possibl~' aid them in the
determination of their poorly developed or fin\,grained secondar)' minerals_
III\
Coarse-sized crystalliplasmas or secondary titaIlium oxide, mainly anatase, are rarely observed in
Moreover. the entire collection of photomicrographs in this book is nflercd with the same didactic
purposes in mind. The author hopes to have been able
to imite soil sdentists and other en''ironmentallv conscious geoscientists, and to stimulate them, to examine
with accuracy and delight, the parent rocks a.nd weathered materials that are concealed. and commonly left
unsampled, at the base of their soil profilc5.
596
GIBBSITE
CRYSTAlLARIA
Bauxite on Birrimian
sedimentary rocks
Western Cote d'lvolre
Sampled at soil surface
Objective: x 4
XPL
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0 mm
597
GIBBSITE
CRYSTAlLARIA
Bauxite on Birrimian
sedimentary rocks
Western Cote d'lvoire
Sampled at soil surface
Objective: x 6.3
XPL
F
0.0 mm
,hO\I
well-developed
crystals of
gibhsite, \I'hich form continuous
crystallaria aruund a dissolution
pore. The undisturbed bauxite is
lisiblein the upper left corner of
the first illustration, ami along the
J-ight sick
the",~cond one. The
gibl)site cT",tal:; are randomlY orientcd anu intimately associated Ivith
ferruginous material directlY inheritccl frum the parent rock. All
around the residual I)ore, very typical coarse CT;'stals 01 gibbsite
or
460
or
or
598,599
COMPOSITE CUTANIC
DEPOSIT
03
==--- 0.2
f
-
0.1
0.0 mm
I!
III
I I
'
Fcrruoino\ls
~
PAAT
4:
46/
600
COMPOSITE CUTANIC
DEPOSIT
-- 0.2
601
COMPOSITE CUTANIC
DEPOSIT
at higher
magnification, shows that the
previously suggestecl hypothesis of
the desilic.1tion 01" a prc-existing
kaolinitic coating does not seem to
be CJuite satisfactory to explain the
detailed morphology of the contact
areas between the successive interId layers. in reality, at the bottom
of' each hematite-rich layer', the contact 'vvith the bllowiJ1g layer 01'
gibbsite (T)'stals exactly molds the
the cr~'stal tercuhcclral shapes
minations, as if the succc,'sivc
~
or
462
or
602
COMPOSITE CUTANIC
DEPOSIT
XPL
0.2
0.1
::.. 0.0 mm
603
GOETHITE IN FILLING
Old ferruginous bauxite
Orumbo Bocca,
Toumodi, Cote d'lvoire
Sampled at soil surface
Objective: x 6.3
XPL
1'1'
11
,,,
,I
(under PPL) entirely masks its birel"ringence colors. Only the Fibrous
material that is parallel, or nearly
so, to the cross-hairs of the ocular
lens are at extinction, which shows
that the photograph was taken
under XPL. Note that the fLbrous
crystals of hematite, in the thickest
central layer, conform to the crystallographic orientation of the
fibrous crystals of goethite. This
particular Feature could correspond
to a later epitaxic replacement.
The lower photomicrograph
shows a complete section cut perpendicularly to the main axis of the
or
463
604,60$
MICROlAMlNATED
GOETHITE
0.2
0.1
0.0 mm
pore has
formed within an iron crust.
The: matrix of the cru~t is composed
of' fine hematite and goethite:, which
are diversely indurated. Quaru
grain., origillJHy included in the
matTix \\"{~re completely dissolved,
lca\"ing residual pores (C 1, CS). The
large tubular pore, clOd also the
small interstitial pores that formed
between the aggregates of plasma
that make up the matrix, are now
flartially infilled by regular thin
deposits of well-former! crystals of
464
goethite. The upper photomicrograph (PPL) clearl: shows the successi"e coatings, which all are
regularly crcscent-shaped. Some
intercalations of red detrital material Jre '-isible in the lower part of
the composite coating, whereas
each la.mina is separated fi-om the
previous one by a thin, smooth and
dark border.
The lower pbotomicrograph
(XPL) shows the perfect orientation
of the goethite crystals, which have
grown perpendicular tu their sup-
606,607
ABSOLUTE
ACCUMULATION
OF GOETHITE
IN IRON CRUST
Sampled by
S.R. Soares Silva Vieira
Objective: x I6
PPL and XPL
r'
=- 0.0
mm
465
608,609
ABSOLUTE
ACCUMULATION
OF GOETHITE
IN IRON CRUST
r'
-,,~
'
S
,I
I " , . I,
show
under PPL and under XPL:
respectively, the radiating arrangement of goeth.ite crystals, as it
appears in a section cut more or less
paraJlel to the wal.1s of tJle pore. This
orientation is conseguently moreor-less perpendicular to the orientation of the sections shown in earlier illustrations. All radiating units
are joined together according to a
regular network of suture lines,
which shows some simiJarities to
466
610
RELATIVE
ACCUMULATION
OF TITANIUM OXIDE
within an alteromorph
after perovskite
Tapira. MG. Brazil
Depth: 1.5 m
Objective: x 6.3
XPL
0.3
0.2
0.1
O.Omm
, I
,.
PART
4 ; lm-JOREUCS,
and bright yellow calor clearly contrast with the brownish orange
color of the cl)'l)tocrystaJline background. Exammation of unweathered perovskite. in the lower levels
of the profile. shows that most areas
occupied by perovskite are either
highly fractured large single cTystals
or aggregates of distinct ,maller
crystals. This last ilistin eti on , even in
the case of unweathered minerals, is
not always obvious because the
pseudocubic nature of the perovskite crystals makes these appear
nearly at extinction, between
crossed polarizers, whatever the
orientation in the plane of the thin
section. Irregular aligml1ents of
mesoo'ystalline anatase suggest the
occurrence of a netvvork of
intramineral fissures or of intermineral boundaries. These have played
the same role as residual voids. and
ha\'e locally resulted in enhanced
crystallinity of the secondary prod-
467
TH[TEXT
JONGERJUS,A. & RUTHERFORD, G.K., eds. (1979): Glos501)' Of Soil MicromorpholoBY' Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation, Wagen.ingen,
The Netherla.nds.
470
78,405-414.
3J, 583 p.
ADomo
AL BIBLIOGRAPHY
lONCER IN I THE A IPLE
~S RIBED
A LT,
BERNABE, E. (1996): Le., mecanismes d'alteration des monuments historiques en environnemem oceanique et rural.
IlpplicaLion ala conservation de l'eBlise Sainr Nonn(J de
Penmare'h eL la hasilique NOLre-Dame Ju Fol8oiit.
These en Geosciences de l'Environnemellt, Uni\'.
Aix-MarseiJ le Ill, MarseilJes, France (217 p.).
BOUU\NGE, B. (1984): Les formations bauxitiques
lateriti<jues de Cote d'Ivoire. Les faci~s. leur transformation, leur distribution et J'evolution du
modele. OJpee Rcch. Sei. feehn. Outre-Mer (ORSTOJ1.
Paris), Trcr..-aux er Doc. 175,364 p_
_ _ _ _ , DEL\.1GNE, J. & ESCHENBRENNER, V. (1973):
Descriptions morpboscopigue.~, geochirnigues et
mineralogigues des facies cu.irasses des principaux
nh'eaux geomorphologiques de C()te d'hoi.re.
OJJIC.c Rech. Sei. Tech. Ourre-it/er (ORSTW4, Paris),
Cah. Ser. Geol. S( I), 59-82.
CLEMENTE, C.A. (1988): Alrera~oes e solos desenvolvidos
sobre rochos vulcanieas aeidas da Forma~ao Serra Geral
nos planaltos de GlJarapum'a e Palmas, ReBiao Cenrro
SuI do EsLado do Parana. Tese de Doutoramento,
Escola Superior de Agrieultma Luiz de Quciroz,
Piracicaba, Estado de Sao Paulo, I3rasil (2l1 p.).
DEKAYIR, A. (1994): Etude de l'ahcfralion supergene d'un
basahe a1calin quarernaire Ju Moyen .4r.las (Maroe).
These en Sciences de la Terre, Univ. Aix-MarseilJe
111, Marseille~, France (181 p.).
DaVIGNE, J. (1960): L'alrerarioa des basaltes du KiI'u
meridional. Con80 Be/Be- Mem. Lie. Geol. Mineral.,
Univ. Cath. Louvain, Belgique (198 p.).
_ _ _ _ (1 990a): H ypogene and supergene alterations of orthopyroxene in the Koua Bocca ultramalk intrusion, Ivory Coast. Chem. Geol. 84,49-53.
(1990b): Alterations hypogenes et
supergenes des ouvines et clinopyroxenes dans
guelgues proms sur roches ultrabasigues du Koua
Bocca (Cote d'lvoire). Sem. Or8anisation et Fonctionnemenl des Altlilices et des SOI5. O.fJice Rech. Sd. 7ech.
Outre-Mer (ORSTOM. Paris). Wackerman, Bondy,
France (J99).
_ _ _ _ & BOLlLANGE, B. (1973): Micromorphologie des hydroxydes d'aluminium dans les niveaux
d' alteration et dans les bauxites. Congres into Je MIcromorphol08ie des S015 (Kin8ston, Canada), 665-681 .
RElHENCES AND
BIBUOGMPHY
0 deposito de
niguel de Jacupiranga (SP): evoluc;:ao mineralogica
e geoguirnica. Rev. Brosileira de Geociencias 15(3),
249-254.
PAZ MORENo, F. (1992): Le volcanisme Mio-Plio-QyaterMile de l' Erat de Sonora (Nord-Ouest du Mexique):
evolution spatiale et chronoloBique; implicatiOns
petr08eneriques. These, Univ. Aix- Marseille ill,
Marseilles, France (351 p.).
PECROT, A., DELVIGNE, J., G,~STUCHE, M.C., VIELVOYE,
L. & FIUPlAT, J-J. (1962): L'alteration des roches et
la formation des sols au Kivu (Republique du
Congo). Insrirut National POUl l' Ecude A8ronomique
du Con80 (IN&lC, Bruxelles). Publ. Se,. Sci. 97, 101 p.
WALTER, A.V (1991): Caraeterisation 8eochimique er
mJneral08ique de l'alteradon de la carbonatite du complexe alcalin de Juquia (Bnisil). Comporcement des terres
rares dans les mineraux phosphates. These, Univ. AixMarseille ill, Marseilles, France (247 p.).
, FUCOTEAUX, R., PARRON, c., LOUBH,
M. & NAHON, D. (1995): Rare earth elements and
isotopes (Sr, Nd, 0, C) in minerals from the
Juguia carbonatite (Brazil): tracers of a multistage
evolution. Chem. Geol. 120,27-44.
ZANONE, L. (1971): La Bauxite en Cote J'lvoire. Bauxitisation eC PaJeocuirasses. Societe pour le Developpement Minier (SODEM!), Abidjan, Cote d'!voire
(184p.).
471
Glossary
ALTERITE
The term aherile is used to designate, iD a profile,
the levels located between the unweathered
bedrock and the soil horizons. It genera]ly comprises a lower level in whid1 the original petrographic texture IS maintained and still
rec09nizabJe either in the field or in thin section
'"
(isalterile), and an upper level in wh.ich the or-iginal
textw-aJ features have partly or totally disappeared
(al/oterile). The weathered part of a profile, in
which structures of the original rud<s are maintained, is also calJed saproliu.
ARGILLAN
nle term is used to designate a cutanic fabric
whose mineralogical nature is principaUy composecl of clay minerals. The clay minerals are commonly kaolinite, more or less colored by goeth.i.te
or hematite (jerri-argil/an), in ferrallitic soils, or
smectite-grollp minerals (saponite, nontronite)
and montmOliUonite in the lower parts of landscape.s, where the conditions of drainage are less
efficient. ArgilJan exhibits commonly alternating
mkrolan1inations of limpid a.nd speckled clay,
genera.lly oriented parallel to the surface (wall of a
void, skeleton grain or ped surface) on which it is
fIxed by illuviation and deposition of detrital
clayey material.
ARGILLlPLASMA
111e tern1 designates the Fraction of soil material of
colloidal size that consist.s dominantly of clay minerals. In the arrangement of the elements of a soil,
the term argillip!asma is complementary to the
skeleton grains.
ASEPIC
Tbe term designates a kind of p!asmicJabric. The
general term sepie is derived from ,epaTQlion, so
tbat asepic (with a without) means without separation of pla.>ma. An a.sepic plasmic fabric corresponds to a dominantly anisotropic plasma with.
anisotropic domains that are unoriented with
respect to each other. The terms ar8i1!asepie and
si!asepic designate a I'abric of a plasma dominantJy
CHADACRYST
The term is used to designate the relatively small
crystals that are enclosed within a larger poikilitic
crystal. Chadacrysls of clinopFoxene or plagioc1ase are commonly observed in poikilitic hornblende, for example.
CHITONIC
This term, introduced by Stoops & Jongerius
(1975), pertains to a type of distribution pattern
of coarse and fine constituents in which the
coarser particles are completely or partly coated
by finer matel-ial. Such material may be i.lluviatioo
coatings or random depOSits of clay 00 /:,1T'ain sw-faces.
COATING
This term denotes a layer of any substance covering surfaces of vojds, grajns and aggregates. It was
lIsed by Kubiena (193H) to describe colloidal films
around grains. Coated grains may be embedded in
the groundmass, but the concept excludes biref'-ingent fabrics such as the Branosuialed bjabTic.
CRYSTALLARIA
This term was proposed by Kubiena (1938) to
designate crystalline pedofeatw-es composed of
single crystals or, more commonly, arrangements
of crystals of relatively pure fractions of the
plasma that do not enclose the S-matrix of the soil
material, but rather form cohesive ma~ses. Their
morpholog;', like small geodes, is consistent with
their formation in pre-existing voids in the enclosi.ng soil mateliaJ _The cry~tals that foml a cI)'stallaria are generally oriented paraJlel to eadl other
and perpendicular to the walls on which they
grow. Tbe crystaUaria may be reduced to crystalline bands running arowld J central empty
residual pore, or they may infiU completely tJ1e
origmal empty pore. The size of the individual
crystals is generally sufficient to aUow the deter-
CRYSTALUPLASMA
The telm is used to distinguish tIle portion of tIle
soil plasma whose components exhibit a grain size
allo~\ing their distinctjon as separate anisotropic
units. The tern) is generally used in opposition to
the term argilliplosma.
CUTAN
Brewer (1964) coined this term to designate a
mocLification of the texture, structure, or fabric at
natural surfaces in wil materials, due to conc(~n
tration of particular soil constituents or in ~iw
modillcation of the plasma. Cutans may be COIUposed of any or the component substances of the
soil material. See also: argillan, skeletan, fen-an,
and goethan.
ENAULIC
Stoops & Jongcrius (1975) introduced this term to
descI'ibe a type of related distribution pattern of
coarse and fine constituents in which skeletons of
coarser particles are associated with aggregates of
finer material regularly distributed in the interstitial spaces_ The iI&...gregates do not completely fill
the interstitial pore-spaces. The size of the skelpton grains may be greater or equal to that of" tIle
aggregates.
EPIGENETIC REPLACEMENT
The term, or the equivalent, epigenesis, is used to
designate the slow replacement, in a rock, at a
low temperature and a low pressure, of a mineral
or material by another mineral, each added atom
replacing a pre-existing atom. This phenomenon
is linked to the transfer of chemjcal elements to a
point, or volume. Th\? term mefasomatism also is
used to designate such cl replacement. The chemical elements added either cJo not exist in the mineral being replaced, or are present there in
relatively low conccntTations only. [n general, the
volume and shape of the mineral or material are
well maintained during or after the replacement.
Examples are provided hy tJle replacement of
kaolinite by iron oxyhydroxides, of feldspar by
calcite, and of calcite in fossilized brachiopods by
pyrite.
FERRAN
This term refers to a kind of tuu.m exclusively
composed l1f oxides or hydroxicks of iron (or
both). This kind of fen-an is commonly observed
474
FERRI-ARG1LLAN
TIus term refers to a kind of cuwn composed of
variable proportions of clay minerals mixed with
iron oxides and hydroxides. Ferri-argiIJans are the
most conunon kind of cutans in soils and near-surface materials, principally in fenalJitic soils. They
correspond generaJly to deposits of day particles
previously stained by iron compounds and not to
synchronous preCipitates of clay minerals and iron
compounds.
GEFUR1C
Stoops & Jongerius (1975) introduced this term to
describe a pattern of distribution of coarse and
fine constituents in wluch the coarser particles are
linked by braces of finer material. The coarse particles are not in contact with each other, and thus
have no skeleton function.
GIBBSAN
This term refers to a kind of cuwn composed
exclusively of gibbsite crystals. Several origins of
gibbsan (sometimes called gibbsiwn to avoid any
confusion 'Nith wp.mn) are observed. Commonly
gibbsaJls are formed iD situ by crystallization of
hydroxide of aluminum from transferred dilute
solutions. They may be also derived from the
desilication of kaolinite cutans (arBillans) previ0usly deposited as detrital particles. More rarely,
gibbsans may form by deposits of detrital crystals
previously formed in a higher level of the profile
and broken and displaced under the influence of
biological factors, such as the activity of tJle soil
micTofauna. In the two first cases, the gibbsite
crystals a.re oriented perpendicular to the walls of
the receptive void, whereas in the third case, the
elongate crystals of gibbsite are genel<llly oriented
parallel to these \va lis.
GLAEBULE
GLACIS
The term refers to a gentl), inclined slope, formed
by a geomorphological process characteristic of
dry climates, which extends on a mountain side,
either from a duT or around a residual hill, plateau
or inselberg. In some cases, it is equivalent to a
piemonl slope. It is derived by analog)' \'l-ith the
glacis used in fortifications as a defense against
attack. The inclination of a glacis does not exceed
some 5 in its lower part, where tl1e slope may
appear as rectilinear and uniform. In its upper
part, it is 1i11kt~d to the sides of the mountain, with
progressively more and more curved and steeper
slopes.
GOETHAN
This type of cutan consists exclusively of gocthite.
1t generaUy results from in situ deposition from
dilute solutions dCI;ved from the upper parts of
tlle prome or crust, where geochemical conditions may induce the mobility of iron and its transfer to lower portions of the profile. In most
goethans, goeiliite exhibits a very fine fibrous
habit. The fibrils grow perpendicular to the waUs
of the original void. Their bright yellow to orange
colOl's are characteristic and aUow easy distinction
from otller types of cutans.
GRANOSTRIATED BIREFRINGENCE-FABRIC
This term. most commonly wTitten granostriated
b-fabric, is a soil fabric formed by clay particles
oriented parallel to the surfac:e of a resistant fabric
units, such as m.ineral grains or hard nodules. A
birefringent halo is seen arou.nd the grain or nodule between crossed polarizers when the microscope stage is rotated. Poro.ltr;aleJ L'fahric is
simjlar, but found within the matrix all around a
pore. Granostriated and porostriated b-fabrics
have features in common with h/pocoatinas.
HEMATAN
This type of cutan, composed of hematite, is
rather r;)l"(: in iron-rich crusts and bauxites
because it has a tendency to be formed exclusively
in very slightly porous and quasi-anhydrous
media, as in argilJiplasmas and all textures of ver),
Bne-grained materials. In iron crusts and balL'oCites,
it is in some instances observed forming regular
intercalations with goelhans and gibbsans. In these
cases, the hematan (oxide of iron) is invariably
located near the wall of the pore, or even in the
surrounding matrix, where anhydrous conditions
GLOSSARY
HYPOCOATING
This peclofeature is Jb"tinguished from the most
common cootina by the fact that it occurs immediately adjoining rather than on tll(~ surface with
which it is associated. It may ariBe by impre.srnation of a ground mass immediately adjacent to the
surface of a void or of a skeleton grain (external
hypocoatings) or by impregnation of the surface
zones of a mi<..Toporous grain (internal hypocoating).
INTERTEXTlC
The term is used to determine a kind of elementary fabl-ic in which mineral grains are united or
linked to each others by intergranuJar braces of
finer material (tlocculatcd clays or organic: material). This interce.Hic fabric conesponds to the
related aifuric pattern of distribution of Stoops &
Jongerius (1975). This fabric gives to the material
large and generally continuous networks of pores.
MAMMfLATE
The term relates to the shape of protuberances
appearing on the undulating and rough surface of
a grain. The surface, seen in a section, consists in
juxtaposition of convex curved protuberances
separated from each otller by triangular acute
inward boundaries. The term may also be used to
incLC<lte coIl1orm or botljoidal or reniform textures.
The opposite, or complementary, relationship is
the palmar.e texture, in which the surface of the
grain, as seen in section, is made of a succession or
adjacent concave curves separated from each
other by triangular or acute protuberances. Diaitate is a term that covers the intermediate ~hapes
betvveen mammilate and palmate surfaces, and
generally apphes to "Hnger~like" projections.
MATRIX
The term is used in sedimentology to indicate the
finer synsedimentary material between sand
grains. It is used in soil micromorphology to designate the finest material of the soil fabric (Smatrix).
MONIC
Stoops & Jongerius (1975) introduced this term
f01' a type of distribution pattern of coarse and fine
constituents in which only particles of one size
range (or amorphous material) are present. Associated interstitial voids, generally referred to as
475
M-PLASMA
This term designates the soil plama that fonns the
colloidal pan of dIe surrounding matrix, by opposition to the plasma that may be observed within
included pedofeatures. Compare \\ith Plasma.
OIKOCRYST
This term designates the large poikilitic crystal
that encloses many small crystals of a different
mineral. Oi.kocrysts of an amphibole-group mineral commonly enclose small crystals of plagiocJase or p)'Toxcne-group minerals. Compare with
chlldauysr.
ORTI-IIC
476
ORTHOBlMASEPIC FABRJC
This complex term is formed from the Greek root
opeo~
straight, from the Latin root bi = two,
and from ma of matrix and sq>ic of separation.
According to Brewer (1964), the rna.<epic fabriC
refers to part of the plasma that has a Oecked orientation pattern, but plasma separations occur as
zones \'\'ithin the S-matrix apparently not associaled with the walls of voids 01' the sw"faces of
skeleton grains; the striated orientation is elongate
parallel to cllC length of the zones. These may be
parallel to each other, or randomly arranged, or
the plasma separations may occur in two (bi-) sets
of subparallel zones, ead, set being inclined as a
definite angle to the other set. This latter fabric is
termed bimllsepic fabric. Where the angle between
the two sets is approximately a right angle, the
fabric becomes all orthobimasepic fabJic.
PACKING VOIDS
These are void~ due 10 the random packing of indi
viduals (Brewer 1964-). Paclcing voids are interconnected between them and may be the
pathways for absolute accumulations of fine matelial. A11 individual voids may exhibit equant size if
they are intertitial between skeleton grains of
approximately the same size.
PAPULE
A papule is a gJaebuJe composed dominantly of
clay minerals with a continuous or lamellar fabric;
it has a sharp external bOllndary and is commonly
prolate to cqnant and somewllat rounded.
PEDOPLASMAnON
Pedoplasmation refers to a near-surface process of
formation of secondary minerals, mainly clay minerals, at the expense either of the minerals of the
parent rock, or of the previously formed secondaI)' minerals that appeared in subjacent alteromorphs. In this case, the microtextural patterns of
tJle aJteromorphs are modHled, and part of their
se.condary minerals is replaced by othcr secondary
minerals of simpler chemical composition, e.B.,
replacement of smectite-group minerals by
kaolinitc, or degradation of the pre-existing
kaolinite by gibbsite.
PEDOTURBAnON
All mixings of soil components not caused by illuviation arc covered by this term. The process of
pedoturbation is a superllcial one that tends to
destroy the soil textures previously formed by
pedological processes. The main factors of pedo-turbation are of biological, phYSical or chemical
order, and they act principally in the upper part of
PLASMA
Plasma is llsed to designate that part of a soil material that is capable of being (or has been) moved,
reorganized or concentrated by the processes of
soil formation. It is the mobile active part of the
soil material. The plasma includes aIJ the material,
mineral or organic, of colloidal size and relatively
soluble material that ;s not bound in the skeleton
gJains. The telm may be written as M-plasma
where it designates specifi.cal.Jy cl)e plasma of the
soil matri.:x.
POIKILITIC
Where an igneous rock displays a poikiJitic texture, small grains of one mineral are irregularly
scattered without common orientation in a typically anhedral larger crystal of an other mineral.
The included small gJ'ains, also called chadacrJ5lS,
are commonJy pyroxene or plagioclase grains
completely embeddefl in an enclosing large crystal, also called oikocr)'St, commonJy of amphibole.
A poikilobla5i (the textural term is poikiloblasric)
refers to a Jal-gc crystal that gJ-ew during metamorphism (i.e., in me solid state), also containing
numerous inclusions of small grains.
PORPHYRJC
This term, introduced by Stoops & ]ongerius
(1975), refers to a type of related pattern of djstribution of coarse and fine constituents in which
ilie coarser particles are completely embedded in
a giou.ndmass of finer material; interstitial pores
are ahsent, at least at the scale of the rustribution
pattern. Depending on the rustance between the
skeleton grains that are completely embedded in a
clayey matrix, one can distinguish a close porphyric
related diStribution, where many coarse IJarticles
have points of contact with each other, and an open
porphyric related disrribution, where few grains an'
in contact with each other. Sinsle- and doublespaced porphyric distJibutions can be distinguished
according to the distances between them in Ielation to Uleir mean diameter.
GLOSSARY
PORPHYROSKELIC
The term, intToduced by Brewer (1964), is eqillvaJeat to porphyric of Stoops & ]ongcrius (1975).
The concept is based on the relation of plasma to
skeleton gJ'ain: the plasma occur-s as a dense
groundmass in wmch skeleton grains are set, in a
manner recalling phenocrysts in a porphyritic
igneous rock.
QUASICUTAN
This tenn refers to a pedologicaL featu.re tl1at
occurs withtn the S-matrix, not immediately
adjoining natural surfaces, but with an obvious
relationship to iliem (Brewer 1964). A quast{erran
is a quasicutan whose constituent minerals mainly
are oxides and hydroxides of iron.
SAPROLITE
Supro/ire is a term conunonly used by geolOgiSts to
refer to a typic..-Jly clay-I-ich, comlJletely decomposed rock, fonued in siw by chemical weather
ing. The original rock may be igneous,
metamorphiC or serumentaly', and its original
structure is commonly preserved throughout the
weatl1ered cover. The iliickness of ilie saprolite
may be very thick, plincipally in humid tropical
regions. Saprolile is equivalent to the tenn alterite.
more recentlv~ introduced and baenerally~ used bv"
soil scientists and other agronomists who study
this material in gJeat detail as an intermecUate
stage in the formation of soil.
SKELETON
The term skelelOn determines relatively stable
residual mineral grains and organisms, t.he size of
which generally corresponds to the sand fraction
of ilie soil. The skeleton grains are generally con
cent.rated or reorganized in specific horizons,
associated with colloidal argiHiplasmas under the
influence or pedological processes.
S-MAffiIX
The S-ma/rix of a soil material is ilie material
(plasma, skeleton grains, associated voids) within
the simplest (primary) peds, or composing apedal
soil materials, that do not occur as pedological
features other than plasma separations; it may be
absent in some soil materials, for example, those
that consist entirely of pedological features
(Brewer [964).
STONE LINE
A stone line is a continuous or discontinuous line
of angular- and subangular rock fragn1ents, paralleling a sloping topogJ'aphic surl'ace and lying just
above the parent material of a soil at a dept.h of a
477
few meters below that surface. Many old ferralLitic soils exhibit stone Lines, a few centimeters to
one meter thick, generally composed of frat,rrnents
of quartz, derived from the residual unweathcrable quartz veins crossing the parent rock of the
soil. and of fragments or gravels of iron dwicTusts
and other resistant materials. Whether a stone tine
is autochthonous or allochthonous (in situ concentration of the fragments by settling and sorting by
microfawla activity, or allochthonous origin by
deposits of gravels on an eroded slope before its
burial under more recent colluvial deposits) is
genel-allya matter of discussion. The heterogeneity of the material may in some cases bring arguments for an allochthonous origin of the matelial
of the stone lines. Where the material is homogeneously composed of ubiquitous Fragments of
quartz, ho",ever, the question may not be
resolved easily.
STRESS CUTANS
The tenn, proposed by Brewer (1964), refers to
an in situ modification of the plasma due to difTerential forces such as shealing. The stress cut,IJ1S are
not true coatings. They develop also between two
or more rigid bodies embedded in a soft clayey
matrix under the influence of variation of volumes
owing to alternations of humidity and dryness;
they arc then expressed by halos of birefringent
oriented clay material contrasting \yith the unoriented day-rich matrix. See also Granosrriated bireJri ngenceJabri(.
SYMPLECTITIC
A s)'mplecriti( texture in an igneous or metamorphic rock is produced by the intimate intergrowth
of (usually) two minerals that grew simultaneously. One or u1e minerals may exhibit a vermicular habit. In this book, the word is used to
characterize the intimate assemblage of vermicular grain;; of magnetite regularly distributed within
one (or more) grain of orthopyroxene. nus
assemblage is interpreted to result From the
replacement of an original grain of otivine subjected to thermal metamorphism.
TOMBOLO
A wmbolo is a bar of sand or gravel or a barrier that
connects an island with the mainland or with an
other island. Where the island has a relatively
large size, two opposite curved (concave) bars
may form, isolating a portion of the sea bet\o\'een
them and the mainland, leading to a double tombolo.
478
TOPOSEQUENCE
The term topaseq[lence (from the Greek root
T01TO~ = place, position, and the Latin root sequi
to follow), also refcrred to as (arena (from the
chain), is used to designate a
Latin root catena
series of profiles or pits regularly distributed and
generally aligned along the longest slope of a
watershed. The distance between each profile can
be l-egular or inegular, and their number, density
and distribution delJend on the local variability of
pedological factors such as topography, vegetation, conditions of internal drainage, ge.omorphological events, and the nature of the bedrock. A
toposequence is created, located and studied in
order to determine the pedologic,ll and weathering response to the local variation of these I'actors
by variations in physical, chemical, mineralogical
and textural properties of the products. These
variations are expressed aJso by the distribution,
thickness and nature or the weathered and pedological horizons of each proll1e or IJit.
VESICLE
The term ,esiclc is used in pedolngy to designate
voids rather similar to vughs, whose walls consist
of smooth, simple cunes, subcircular or elliptical
in section. Vesicles are generally charactel"ized by
a parallel referred distribution within the soil
material. Many of them arc formed by gas development at the expense of organic matter in the
upper horizons
the soil.
or
Index
I DEX OF
PHOTOMICR GRAPH
A 0 FIGt RE
This Index is arranged in such a manner that the main dj\~
sions of the hook are easily accessible. The major themes are
successively arranged in a natural and logical order of
description, From the parent rock to lhe most intenselv
weathered bauxitic mateliak Each of the fifteen theme's
!i,ted below is individualJy imlexed. The page numbers cited
refer 1) to photographs and their r"spective captions, or 2)
to specillc figures, identified in parentheses in hold-face
font. The symbols oxFe, oxTi and OxNln represent oxides
and oxyhydroxides of Fe, Ti and Mn, respectively.
PARENT ROCKS
PRIMARY MINERALS (Mineral species)
PRIMAR)' MLNERALS (Morphological Features)
WEATHERED ROCKS
ALTERATION AND WEATHERING
SECONDARY MlNERALS
ALTEROMORPHS
MATERIAL TRANSFERS
LlTHORELlCS
ALTERORELlCS
CONCRETIONS
NODULES
PEDORELlCS
BAUX1TIC PISOUTHS
ARTIFICIAL FEATURES
1"\1-U-:--
479
4-79
484
4-86
486
487
490
491
491
492
492
493
4-94494494
r I{I l( 'K'"
Granitic: gnei~s 97
Kcr.~antite 100, 101, 128,160,168
Komatiite 131
Metagabhro 187
Mica schist 198, 249
Nepheli.nc syenite (luja\clitej 68, 102, lOS, 106, 10~, 118,
1 I 9, 121. I H, 234, 235, 295, 33 I, 332, 33 3, 334,
335
Pelidotite 132, 268. 269. 302
Phonolite 15
Pyroxcnite 10,17,19,10,21,24,25,61,62,66,67,70,
71,72,73,74,77,78,79,93,96,99,110, Ill,) 12,
113,120,130,133,135,136,137, J38, 140,156,
157,158,159,162, In3, 166, 167,169, 170, 177,
178,188,189,190,198,200,209,210,211,212,
213,215,219,227,228,229,230,231,263,264,
265,266,267,271,272,273,274,275,283,284,
285, 286, 287, 288, 290, 191, 292, 293, 296, 297,
29~, 299, 300, 301, 303,304,305,320,321,322,
323, 32'>, 336.337, 338, 339, 340,356, 357, 358,
365, 366
Schist 16. 202
Ultrabasicrock 51 (4A), 352,353,359,368,369
479
480
inc111~ions
or
amphibolc 303, 304-, 305
magnetite 303
onbopyroxene 303
orientation of inclusions 303, 305
orientation of secondal]' products
random, une\'('11 200
regular 304-, 305
peripheral + banded patterns of m:'athcrillg I j7, 157
primary mineral 20, 303
secondar} mjnerals
calcite 200
,aponite 137,157,304,305
Epidote 18,180, 185,202,262 (35B), 355
allanite 185
concentTic pattern of weathering 185
rim 01" primary mineral 185
fracture.l 202
inclusion" of 262 (35B)
inclusions of quartz 180
prirnary mineral 130, 135
"econdan'/ mineraJ~
saponite 185
iron oxyhydrox:ides 202
Euclial \,te 121, 234a~sociated mioeral 234patchy pattern 01" weathering 121
secondarl" minerals
natrolite 121
oxJ"'(' 121
Feldspars (mLneral species not spt'ciried) 51 (4B), 69, 89
(9C), 90 (lOA, B), 14-3, 145, 146, 232, 233, 247,
250,257,276,308 (4DB), 330. 354. 367
cal'f~rnou" 143, 146
cleavages 143,247
fractures 69,257, 301l (40B)
inclusions in 145
inflllings of
days 69,308 (40B)
smcctile 2)J, 330
interconnecteJ vughs 257
minute residues 14.3
oriented secondary mineral> 247, 257
patterns of weadlering
complex 146
irregular 89 (9C)
irrel,rular digitate 89 (9C)
res.iclual voids 247, 308 (40B)
residues, cores 308 (40B)
reticulate intramineral fractures 132, 133, 330
secondary minerals
gihb~itt: 89 (9C), 143. 145, 146, 247, 257, 308
(40B)
isotropic matc-ria189 (9C), 143,232,233,3.30
twins 143, 146
Fenomagnesian mincrals (mincral speci<:s not specilled)
201,250,291,319
cleavages 319
epigenetic replacement 20 I
fractures 20 I, ~ 19
inJlllings of gihbsitc 319
secondary minerals
iron' oxybvdroxides 20 I, 319
Garnet 16, 88 (8B): 97, 181, 249
l"a\"(~rnous residue~ 249
external rim 97
inclu~i()n.s in 16, 181
irregular cro,~ing fncturcs 16, 88 (8B). 131, 24-9
patterns of \\'(.'aulcring
Lrr<:guJar linear SS (SB), 24-9
peripheral 97
prima,," mineral 16. 18l
rl'sic!uaJ empty pores 88 (SB), 249
re"idues (random) 88 (8B)
~econdarv minerals
gibhsite 249
oxFe 8S (SB), 97, 2+9
Hornblendt: 13, 19,24,25,51 (4A, B), 61, 62. 65, 71, 79.
88 (SC), 13~, 156, 178,195, 196, 197,232,233,
151,253,278 (37C), 291,303,304,305
bundles of crystals 195
cleavages 24,' 25,88 (SC), 133.251,278 (.37C), 291
denticulate residues 38 (SC), 133, 196, 278 (.37C),
291
diffusion halos 197
erroneous interpretation .103, 304, 305
fractures 278 (3 7C). 291
Lnel usions in I 3. 1.3 3, 195, 25 I
inclusions or 261 (35C)
inilllings 25
inn,lm.ineral porosity 2+, 25
oriented secondan mineral> 253
pattelTls or wcath~ring
complex 291
irregu1Jr, banded 1.33
pelliC1dar 196, 278 (37C)
regular, crossLn.g 88 (8C), 251,253
prin1ary mineral 13, 19,24-,25,61,178,195
residual empty pores 278 (HC), 291
-'l'condarv minerals
gibbsite 278 (37C), 291
nxFc 51 (4A), 88 (SC), 133. 196, 197, 251, 253.
278 (37C), 291
smectite 51 (4B)
twins 13
zonation 19
H~'pcrsthe-Il<' 10,78,79, 130, 1.35, 177, 187, 188,265,
266, 267, 273, 274, 275, 284, lR5, 292, 293, 296,
297.198,299,300,301,318,340
as second.n\" mineral 273
clca\'ages 130, 292
cl;'stals protruding 187, 188
dcnticul.ltion 130, 135,267,292,293,299,301
c!i\'ergent pattern 188
fractures 78, 130, 135,292,301
orientation 01" secondary minerals 266,167,284,285,
293,300
patterns of weathering
linear or handed 130, 135, 292, 293
p<lrallel. banded 187,284,285,292
p'Tipberal 300
primary mineral 177
481
482
irre1:,'uJar 105
irregular, patch," 119
secondary minerals
gihbsirc 89 (913), lOS, 145, H6, 217
isotropic material 89 (9A), 90 (1013)
kaolinite 90 (lOB)
twirLS 89 (9B), 105
Orthop)Tnxen(' (mineral species not specitled) 83 (SC),
189, 190,278 (37A, B), 280 (3SC), 296, 297, 298,
299, 300. 318,34-0
ck'avages 278 (37A), 280 (38C), 318
dentic'~lat<. residual cores 340
fracttLrt.'"s 79, 177, 278 (37A), 280 (38C), 318, 340
inl1llings of
gibbsite 318
iron oX}'hvdroxirl~s 3+0
nrthop}'roxenc + oli\'in", 10, 175 (1SB), 266, 267
orthopyroxene + oli~'ine + magnetite 175 (ISC), 265,
273.274,275,296,297,298,299
prinlarY mineral 177
resicl ualcores 278 (37 A)
residuaJ pores 318, 340
secondary mineral~
;unplubole + magnetite 190
iron oxvhvdroxides 280 (38C), 318, 34-0
later e,,'ol~tion 280 (38C)
orient.ation or 340
smectite 83 (SC), 280 (3SC), 340
talc + magnetite 278 (37A, B). 79, 189
wlc + anlphibole + magnetite 188, 278 (37B)
Orthop~Toxene + oli\ine. 10,175 (ISB), 266, 267
OrthoPFoxene + oli<-ine + magnetite 175 (I RC), 265,
273,274,275,296,297,298,299
Pf'I'O\'sl-ilt' 18J., 212, 467
flssure, 212
primar)' mineral 182
'cconclal"l' min('fals
anatasc 212, 4-67
crystallinity 212., 467
porosi ty 4-67
twin.s 11\2
Phlogopite 21, 77, 78,140,156,157,162.163,169,170,
198,322, 323, 325
breakage or iJlclucl(:c1 Cl''', Hbl, Mgt, Ap 77,78, 156,
157
derormation 198
epigen,'tic replacement 140, 198
expansion 156, IS7, 163, 169,170,322,123
illlillings of
gi'f,bsite 325
quartz 322,323
interlayert'd port's 322, 323
rcplacemE'nt by
calcite 1+0
iron oxyhr'droxides 198
secondary mi.Jl~rals
kaolinitc: 162,163,169,170,198
orientation of 322, 323
\wmiculite 156, 162, 163, 169. 170, 198, 322.
323
Plagioclase 14, 17, 18, IC), 68, 90 (IOC), 98, 103, 104,
483
484
ino-amineraJ features
cleavages 86 (7C), 254, 255
fractures 254
twins 255
patterns of weathering
regular, crossing 254
regular. parallel 86 (7C)
porosity
circum-mineral pores 75
circum-noduJar residuaJ pores 86 (7C)
residual pores 86 (7C), 255
secondary mineraJs
oriented secondary minerals 254, 255
oxFe (goethite) 86 (7C), 254. 255
smectite-group mineraJ 51 (4A)
Quartz 51 (4B). 69. 116, 120, 195, 196. 197.215.216.
2\7.218,276.308 (40C), 355, 367
cavernous rcsidues 215. 216, 217, 218
dissolution voids 120. 215, 216, 217, 218. 308 (4OC),
fractures 69,216,217.218,308 (40C)
inclusions of 143. 145
in/tHings of
clays + oxFe 120
gibbsite 69,216,217,218.308 (40C)
iron-rich materiaJ 217, 218
pattern of weathering
patchy 116, 120
secondary minerals
zeolites 116
Staurolite 181
pleochroism 181
primary mineral 181
Titanite 180
primary mineJ-a1 180
Tremolite 368
Volcanic glass and vesicles 236
Zeolites 102.116,117,186.334
PIUM..\I{' 'Vl1l\! 1(\1' I hlrphillll"it.11 1",II'lr,>q
Complex features
accordant surfaces 66,69.78,232
digitating, branched fissures 99. 103, 104, 142, 191
non-accordant surfaces 71
reticulate (hierarchized) 118,232,233,234-,268,269,
330
traos-, inter-. intramineraJ fissures 23, 79, 107. 109,
136,137,166,268.269.335.367
Crystal shapes
acicular crystals 68, 187. 284, 285
chadacryst 61, 354, 358
coarse crystals 292,294,295,331,332.333. 337
diamond-shaped crystals 168, 180
elongate crystals 104, \ 05. \33, 195
embayments 12, 22, 184
embedded minerals 77,133.303,304,305
euhedral crystals 11,12.15,16,19,20,22,83 (SA),
88 (8B. C), 92, 99,101,117.118,133,176,
177. 178,179.180.181,182, \83. 184-. 185.
186,234-,251,281.304,312 (4IA, B, C), 313
(42A. B. C), 354-.460
fibrous crystals 68, 289
485
I~t
ll'k
Bauxite 69,145,217,218,326,341,412,433.434,435.
436.437,430, 439, 440, 441, +42, 445, 446, 447,
+48,449,450,451, -1-52, 453. 454, 455, 456, 457,
-1-60, +61,462, 463
Cl!crctp 140, 199
Iron ,Tusl 76, 19S, 201, 202, 215, 274, 325, 368, 37+.
375,380,383,384,386,418,419,420,421,422,
423,464,465,466
Sikrde 302
Soil 275, 358. 359, 360, 36S, 366. 367, 376, 377, 381,
382,413,414
Pa!t:erns
bJ..nrkd
concCJ1tric z\>nation I I'~
crossing 1 32
hierarchized 132
irregular 73, 110, 111, 112, 113, 128, 129,130,
131,132.133,135,1+2,147,186,21+,
216,262 (35A). 264, 268, 293, 299,302,
337
irregular lTos.-handed 14-7, 302. 319
parallel 183
parallel to clea\'agl's 20, 23, 107, 252, 256
parallel t.u layering 139, 140, 158, 159, 160, 161,
164
parallel t(> twins 115, 147.203,252,255,256
regular transverse 23, 107, 109. 134, 136
r('ticulatt' 268
cuml)lex (mixed) 84 (GA) 84 (6B) 84 (6C), 23, 107,
109,110, Ill, 112, 137, 146,186,203,256
486
or
'f-Jur"
Assemblages
isolated 147
divergent (bundles) 188, 236, 329
interlayered 84 (6B), 86 (7A, B), 140
parallel 365, 366
radiating (and spheruJes) 186, 188,220,246,323
Degradation 74, 76, 83 (5C), 161, 163, 167, 169, 170,
171,192,203,280 (3SC), 327, 328,336,339,341
"iddingsite" to iron oxybydroxides 76, 167, 192
gibbsite to kaolinite 327, 328
kaolinite to gibbsite 161, 341
smectite-group mineral to kaolinite 74, 163
talc to residual pores 336, 339
venniculite to kaolinite 163, 169, 170, 171
Distribution
agglomerate texture 248,257,312 (41C), 313 (42A,
B, C)
aureolar 229, 297, 300, 331, 332, 333
banded pattern 84 (6B), 131, 132, 147,262 (35A),
264, 268, 269, 292
boundaries, suture planes (along) 23, 88 (SA), 106,
107,109,278 (37C)
bundles 188, 278 (37B)
cleavages (along) 19, 20,23,88 (SC), 89 (9A, B), 90
(lOB), 107, 140,147,278 (37A, C)
333
rin110, 83 (5B, C), 97, 99,101,103,106,145,176,
185, 188, 189, 190, 210, 217, 218, 219, 220,
263, 264, 270, 283,287, 288, 293, 297, 298,
300, 320, 329, 336, 339, 340
septaric texture 186, 202, 203, 235, 249, 250, 252,
253, 254, 255, 256, 270, 278 (37C), 291, 292,
318
crossing 88 (SC), 251,252,253,254,256,291
irregular 88 (8B), 249, 257, 278 (37C)
parallel 86 (7C), 250, 251,255,270,292,318
surface protective layer 96
symmetrical I 9, 255
wedges 100, 158
Mineral species
actinolite 187,190,289
amph.iboles 278 (37B)
anatase 96, 21 2
micromorphology 467
apatite
primary 133, 156, 157, 182,219
secondary 220, 329
b6bmite 432,'433,435,438,439,442,451
deposits 447, 448, 449, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455
evolution to gibbsite 438, 439, 441, 445, 446,
447,448,449,450,454
487
488
ATu..s
489
exfoliation 168, 169, 170, 17!, 324expansion (perpendicular) process 77, 84 (6A, B, C),
86(7B),156, 157,159,160, 162,164, 166, 169,
170,171,231,321,322,323,324,34-1
faulting 165, 166
increase 75,77,78,84 (6A, B, C), 86 (7B), 100, 136,
156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161. 162, 163, 164,
165,166,167,189,191,278 (37A), 321, 322,
323,324,341
sliding 165, 166
shrinkage
artificial pores, 6ssures 130, I 35
process 66,232,233,234,235
swelJing process 66,84 (6C), 164, 165, 166
\t
r RI l.\\OH1'11,>
490
->
Accumulation
absolute 32 (3),76, 119, 140, 161, 199,200,201,
203, 209, 219, 220, 233, 255, 272, 295, 308
(4tlA, B, C), 312 (41B, C), 313 (42B, C), 318,
319,320, ')21,322, 323, 324, 325, 329, 330,
331,332,333,335,340,447,44-8,449,451
pathways of 24, 25, 324, 331, 332
relative 32 (3), 76, 95, 138, 160, 161,293,329
Crystallaria
of apatite 329
of calcite (microsparitc) 14-0, 199, 200
of gibbsite 76, 119, 161, 203, 232, 233, 295, 308
(40C), 318, 319, 325,4-36,445,4-60
of natroUte I 19
of quartz 322, 323
of titau.ium oxide J 28, 212
Enridunents
of Al 69, \61,318,319,335
of ea 140,199,200,288
of Fe 198,201,203,209,219,228,231,445
of 11111 209, 264
of Ni 268
ofP 95,220,329
of Si 322, 323, 327
pClipberal enrichment 162, 219, 329
Halos or diffusion 197,228,272,300,336,445
I1luviation 71, 199, 203, 217, 320, 321, 330, 331, 332, 335
1nfiJIings
coatings 25, 67, 69, 71, 75, 76, 120, 201, 320, 321,
326, 339, 340, 352, 353, 354-, 4-39, 445, 446,
447,4-5 1,4-52
fault.ing of 67
h)poc<~atings 70, 74-, 337
quasi-coatings 228
of material 69, 75, 76, 120, 160,165,218,326,441,
44-7,44-8
amorphous material 326
apatite 220, 329
bohmite 438,4-39,44-0,442, 449, 450, 4-5 I, 4-52,
453,4-54-,455
,q.
\',+, P;-,
3~h.
357. 1;;;0;,
is'),lfU
Cr-ack.~,
fractures
accordant surfaces 354inte.rconnected 352, 353, 354intermineral 353
intralllineral 352
peripheral 355, 358, 359, 360
Orientation
granostriated b-fabric 359
loss of orientation 352
Parent minerals
epidote 355, 356, 357
hornblende 358, 359
mirrocline 354plagiochse 355
pyroxenes 352, 353, 356, 357,358
Parent rocks
granitic rocks 354-,355,360
calc-alkaline granite 355
pyroxenitt' 356, 357, 358, 368
ultrabasic rocks 352,353,359
Processes
aJJuvial 359
breakagt' 352, 354-, 355
colluvial352
displacement 354
erosion 352
illu\'iation, inl"llJings
clayS 354, 355
iro'n-rich clay material 352, 353, 358
incorporat.ion to matrix 352, 353
491
Shape
irregular 352, 358
disturbed 353
Size
small 354
Weathering to
altero-lithorelks 353, 356, 357
evolution of conditions of weathering 356, 357, 359
iron oxyhydToxides 356, 357
smectite 353, 356, 357
, I ITI\r)1 r'II\\ 7~. ~(,:;. 11'l,. Ih7, lr,~, -1(,<1, PO,
112, \7:1, n. 175. i'7, '17.1,(1, 'l'\I. i.\\,
,'5. jilt", 1'17, 3<l<. 4U:::, -Ill)
71,
~I<
Cracks, fractures
coatings (with) 369, 370
interconnected 369, 370, 373, 386
intermineral cracks 367
inter'plasma - mineral pores 366
intramineral cracks 367, 386
peripheral 365, 368, 370, 371, 372, 381, 385, 386
phynopores 373, 377
porosity in volumes of plasma 368, 369, 370, 371,
372,374,380,381,384,386,387
protoclastic 376, 383, 384
radial 370, 386
residual pores 375,376,382
Matrix
pedoplasma369. 370, 371, 372,374,376,380,381,
385, 388
iron crust 375, 380, 383, 384, 386, 387
Orientation
preserved 369, 371
disturbed 371
Parent material
charcoal fragment 388
clinopyroxene 365,366,380,381,383,385
feldspar 367
"iddingsite" 383, 384
magnetite 381, 383,385,386
micas 373,374,377
oHvine 376, 383, 384
papule, pedorelic 387
guartz 367,375,382,386
tremoute 368
Parent rock
granitiC gneiss 373
pyroxenite 365,366,367,372
uJtraba~ic rock 368, 369, 370. 380, 381, 383, 384,
385, 386
volcano-sedimentary rock 371
Processes
cortification, nodule formation
bridges 368, 384, 387
centrifugal (external or accretion cortex) 368,
370,380,384,385,387,388,397,398
centripetal (internal or epigenetic cortex) 368,
370, 380, 381, 383, 385,387, 388
combined internal and external cortices 368, 370,
380, 385, 387, 388
492
Matrix
granostriated b-fabric 411
hypocoatings 41 1
guartz-ricb 411,412
soil
colluvial411, 412, 413, 414
sandy 411 , 412
Origin
allochthonous 41 1, 41 3, 414
anorthic 41 2
autochthonous 411
mixed 412
orthic 411 , 412
Parent material
alterorelics 412
detrital minerals 41 1, 41 2
sandy soil 411, 412, 413
Porosity
peripheral assure 41 1, 41 3
Process
cortification 414
induration 411 , 412
destruction 41 3
ATlAS
Shape
boundary
progressi ve 41 1
sharp 412
irregular, sinuous 41 I , 41 3
rounded 41 1, 414
subrounded 41 I
~5
. iql, I 2,
.l.!.O..12 I , -+ J.!,
i')o, 3\)7,
+1 4
+) j
Composition
iron oxyhydrox:ides 380, 382, 391, 392, 393, 394,
395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 401, 402, 405, 406,
407,410,418,419,420,421,422
Mn-rich nodules 414
Cortex
bridged 384, 400, 402, 410, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422,
423
broken 405,406,407
centrifugal (external) cortex 380, 394-, 395, 396, 397,
398, 399,400,401,402,406,408,410,414,
418,419,420,421,422,423
centripetal (internal) cortex 380,421
composite (goethite + hematite) 380, 396, 398, 399,
419
discontinuous 408
discordant 394, 406, 407
incorporated features
alteromorpbs 421
pedoplasma 398,399,418,419,420,421,422
quartz grains 400, 401,402,406,413
microlaminated 397, 398, 399,401,402
orientation of constituents 396, 399
particular section of 396,400,419,420
separation fTom nucleus 405
Evolution 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413,
414,418,419,420,421,422
destruction, desquamation, spalling 405,406,407
erosion, abrasion 406, 408
Matrix
braces, bridges 393, 398,418, 419, 420, 421, 422,
423
chitonic distribution of 392, 409
coatings 409
detrital grains 394, 396,400,406,408,409,420
epigenetic replacement 418, 419
evolution 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423
gefuric b-fabric 393
granostriated b-fabric 391,392,395,407,408,419
interconnected 418, 421
interstitial 418, 419
iron crust 398,399,400,418,419,421,422,423
isolated by bridges 410,418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423
isO"0lun1etric evolution 421
leaching 420, 421, 422
pedoplasma (incorporation of) 396, 398, 399,419
relict S-matrix 393, 398
sandy 406, 409
sandy residues 422
soil
Nucleus
irregular 397, 408
regular 397
Parent material
alterorelic 397, 398,400,401,402,408,409,410,
421,4-22
Parent rock of the nucleus
granite 391, 402
quartz assemblage 408
ultraba5ic rocks 391, 397, 398,402,409,414
Porosity
coatings 409
concentric internal 405, 413
interstitial fissures 392, 393
peripheral fissures 391,392,394,395,413,421
porosity in volumes of plasma392, 393, 419, 420
preservation of shapes 382, 401
radial fissures 396, 405, 413
residual pores 382, 401, 406, 410
within the cortex 40 I
within the matrix 392,419,420,421,422
within the nucleus 409
Primary mineral
pyroxenes 380, 409
quartz 382, 400, 401,402,406,413
Process
cortification 380, 394, 395, 397, 398, 399,400,401,
402,406,408,410,418,419,420,421,422,
423
bridges 398, 400, 402, 410, 418, 419, 420, 421,
422,423
centrifugal 380, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399,
400, 401, 402, 406, 408, 410, 414, 418,
419,420
microlaminated cortex 397, 398, 399,400,401
interlayered goethite - hematite 398, 399,419,
420
creep, displacement 394, 395, 400, 402, 405, 406,
407, 408
destruction 405, 406, 413
dissolution 382, 401,405,406
epigenetic replacement 380, 402, 410, 419
formation of fissures in the matrix 391, 392
induration, hardening 410. 418
internal stress 401
leaching 420, 421, 422
Shape
broken 394, 405, 406, 407
irregular 41 3
rounded, smooth 382,391,392,394,395,397,398,
406,419,420,421,422
spherical 407, 414-, 418
Size
constant, maintained 406, 414
decreasing 405,423
increasing 397, 421, 423
Texture
chitonic 392, 409
493
494
t\ \ l'1I-rt 1/\
1--[:\ TII ({ -S
1"', I. 11Illh. I
born in Tournai, Belgium, on
July 12, 1929, has an academic background in
agronomy and the geological sciences. He
obtained his doctorate from the Universite
CathoLique de Louva.in, in Belgium. He began h.is
professional activities in 1956 atYangambi, then in the
Belgian Congo, where he was affiliated with the lnstitut National pour I'Etude Agronomigue du Congo
(INEAC). There, he studied the alteration of the
important rocks, mostly basalt, that make up the broad
expanses of that country. He also investigated the formation of soil at the expense of volcanic ash emitted by
volcanos in the eastern part of the country. His observations relied heavily on optical methods and on the
technigues of thermal and chemical analysis available in
that setting and at that time.
PRIMARY MINERAL
ISO-ALTEROMORPH
MESO-AtTEROMORPH
KATA-ALTEROMORPH