Simulating weathering of basalt on Mars and Earth by thermal cycling

Simulating weathering of basalt on Mars and Earth by thermal cycling

Physical weathering induced by heating and cooling may cause rock breakdown on Mars and Earth. We report results from parallel weathering simulations on basalt blocks exposed to diurnal cycles representing Mars‐like (two simulation runs from −55 to +20 oC and −75 to +10 oC, 1–100% relative humidity,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters Vol. 37; no. 18
Main Authors: Viles, Heather, Ehlmann, Bethany, Wilson, Colin F., Cebula, Tomasz, Page, Mark, Bourke, Mary
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Washington, DC Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2010
American Geophysical Union
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Subjects:
Basalt
Carbon dioxide
Earth
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
experiment
Hydrology
Planetology
Planets
Relative humidity
Salts
Weathering
atmosphere
Relative humidity
stress
physical weathering
salt
strength
volcanic rocks
simulation
Carbon dioxide
weathering
igneous rocks
pressure
chemically precipitated rocks
evaporites
greenhouse gas
Earth
sedimentary rocks
Mars
diurnal variations
basalts
cooling
warming
temperature
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Summary:Physical weathering induced by heating and cooling may cause rock breakdown on Mars and Earth. We report results from parallel weathering simulations on basalt blocks exposed to diurnal cycles representing Mars‐like (two simulation runs from −55 to +20 oC and −75 to +10 oC, 1–100% relative humidity, 4–8 mbar pressure, CO2 atmosphere) and hot arid Earth (23–72o C, 30–100% relative humidity) conditions. Under Earth conditions, thermally pre‐stressed blocks showed measurable strength declines, whilst salt pre‐treated blocks showed strength gains. Under Mars‐like conditions, pre‐stressed blocks recorded greater or similar strength declines and salt pre‐treated blocks showed more muted strength declines than under Earth conditions. The results imply that on Earth and Mars diurnal cycling of temperature alone can cause deterioration of basalt with a pre‐existing stress history. The type of stress history is important, with salt pre‐treatment affecting the response of thermally pre‐stressed blocks under both Earth and Mars conditions.
Bibliography:ArticleID:2010GL043522
istex:07ED48AB51C3E52CC095AA84F7439FC2102D1AFF
ark:/67375/WNG-GSH4QNBP-W
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1029/2010GL043522