Some Fundamentals of Mineralogy and Geochemistry

All about carbonates

This page presents a subset of the website titled Some Fundamentals of Mineralogy and Geochemistry. It has links to all the SFMG pages on carbonate solution chemistry, carbonate minerals, and carbonate materials. All the pages here should be available on the SFMG page, but they are collected here for the convenience of people who share the author's enthusiasm for things carbonate.

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Solutions, CO₂, HCO₃^-, CO₃^2- and CaCO₃

Speciation of inorganic carbon in aqueous solution
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Variation in the dissociation constants of H₂CO₃ and HCO₃^- with temperature and salinity
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P_CO2 of atmospheres and pH and HCO₃ ^- concentration of solutions
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Carbonate equilibria in solutions exposed to the atmosphere I
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Carbonate equilibria in solutions exposed to the atmosphere II
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Ca²⁺ and HCO₃^- concentrations in natural waters. Part I: a plot
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Ca²⁺ and HCO₃^- concentrations in natural waters. Part Ia: an inset
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Ca²⁺ and HCO₃^- concentrations in natural waters. Part Ib: an inset
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Ca²⁺ and HCO₃^- concentrations in natural waters. Part II: observations
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The reaction for equilibrium of CaCO₃ with natural waters
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Reactions for the dissolution of CaCO₃
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Reactions for the precipitation of CaCO₃
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Degassing of CO₂ and precipitation of CaCO₃
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Adsorption of hydrated Mg²⁺ on calcite as an inhibitor of calcite growth
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Carbonate minerals

Patterns in the compositions of minerals I: carbonates and sulfates
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Patterns in the compositions of minerals VI: a summary
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Cation sites in the common carbonate minerals
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CaCO₃ minerals
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X-ray diffraction (XRD) of aragonite and calcite
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Stability and solubility of carbonate minerals of divalent cations
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Factors favoring precipitation of CaCO₃ as calcite or as aragonite
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Adsorption of hydrated Mg²⁺ on calcite as an inhibitor of calcite growth
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Mg-bearing carbonate minerals
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Solubility of common carbonate minerals
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Occurrence of common carbonate minerals
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The diversity of carbonate minerals
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Density of Minerals I: Inter-radical cations
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Density of Minerals VI: The effect of structural H₂O
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Density of Minerals VII: The effect of OH^- in oxysalts
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Density of Minerals VIII: The significance of crystal structure
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Color in carbonate minerals
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Isotopic geochemistry of carbonate materials

Oxgyen isotope composition of calcite as a function of temperature and water composition
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A graphic explanation of fractionation of oxygen isotopes between water and calcite
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Oxygen isotope fractionation in the precipitation of calcite and aragonite
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The "clumped isotope" paleotemperature method for carbonates
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Rock-water ratios and the stability of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values in carbonate materials
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Isotopic mixing curves: a carbonate example
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Carbonate materials

Earth's naturally occurring carbonate materials
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The many wonders of CaCO₃
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C and O stable isotope compositions of Cenozoic Earth-surface materials of all sorts, Part I
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C and O stable isotope compositions of Cenozoic Earth-surface materials of all sorts, Part II
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Carbonate speleothems

Degassing of CO₂ in caves and precipitation of speleothems
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Dating speleothems: Radiometric dating via U-series disequilibrium I
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Dating speleothems: Radiometric dating via U-series disequilibrium II
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Controls on the δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of spelean CaCO₃
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C and O stable isotope compositions of speleothems
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Sources of C and O in the CaCO₃ of speleothems, or,
    Why δ¹³C varies more than δ¹⁸O in speleothems
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Isotopic evolution of cave waters with degassing of CO₂ and evaporation
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Pedogenic carbonates

C and O stable isotope compositions of pedogenic carbonates
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δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O profiles in pedogenic carbonates
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Pedogenic CaCO₃ (caliche) as a record of ancient atmospheric concentration of CO₂
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Marine carbonates and the carbon cycle

Variation in concentration of solutes in the oceans III: Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
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Variation in concentration of solutes in the oceans IIIa: Carbon dioxide and the carbonate compensation depth (CCD)
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Variation in δ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon in the oceans
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The carbon, and carbonate, cycle
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Box models of the long-term carbon cycle
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The δ¹³C record of marine limestones
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The δ¹⁸O record of marine limestones
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Boron in marine calcite as an indicator of ancient P_CO2
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Lithification of sediments to sedimentary rocks I: Proceses
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Lithification of sediments to sedimentary rocks II: Possible pathways
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Lithification of sediments to sedimentary rocks III: Compaction
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Lithification of sediments to sedimentary rocks IV: Cementation
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Terms of use: Academic instructors are encouraged to use the material above in their classes, either as in-class illustrations or as handouts. Permission from the author for such use is not required, but notice to the author of such use is appreciated. Permission from the author is required for use in publications, Web-based documents, or other non-classroom use.

e-mail to Bruce Railsback (rlsbk@gly.uga.edu)
Railsback's main web page
UGA Geology Department web page

The content and opinions expressed on this Web page do not necessarily reflect the views of, nor are they endorsed by, the University of Georgia or the University System of Georgia.

Some Fundamentals of Mineralogy and Geochemistry

All about carbonates

Solutions, CO2, HCO3-, CO32- and CaCO3

Speciation of inorganic carbon in aqueous solution

Variation in the dissociation constants of H2CO3 and HCO3- with temperature and salinity

PCO2 of atmospheres and pH and HCO3 - concentration of solutions

Carbonate equilibria in solutions exposed to the atmosphere I

Carbonate equilibria in solutions exposed to the atmosphere II

Ca2+ and HCO3- concentrations in natural waters. Part I: a plot

Ca2+ and HCO3- concentrations in natural waters. Part Ia: an inset

Ca2+ and HCO3- concentrations in natural waters. Part Ib: an inset

Ca2+ and HCO3- concentrations in natural waters. Part II: observations

The reaction for equilibrium of CaCO3 with natural waters

Reactions for the dissolution of CaCO3

Reactions for the precipitation of CaCO3

Degassing of CO2 and precipitation of CaCO3

Adsorption of hydrated Mg2+ on calcite as an inhibitor of calcite growth

Carbonate minerals

Patterns in the compositions of minerals I: carbonates and sulfates

Patterns in the compositions of minerals VI: a summary

Cation sites in the common carbonate minerals

CaCO3 minerals

X-ray diffraction (XRD) of aragonite and calcite

Stability and solubility of carbonate minerals of divalent cations

Factors favoring precipitation of CaCO3 as calcite or as aragonite

Adsorption of hydrated Mg2+ on calcite as an inhibitor of calcite growth

Mg-bearing carbonate minerals

Solubility of common carbonate minerals

Occurrence of common carbonate minerals

The diversity of carbonate minerals

Density of Minerals I: Inter-radical cations

Density of Minerals VI: The effect of structural H2O

Density of Minerals VII: The effect of OH- in oxysalts

Density of Minerals VIII: The significance of crystal structure

Color in carbonate minerals

Isotopic geochemistry of carbonate materials

Oxgyen isotope composition of calcite as a function of temperature and water composition

A graphic explanation of fractionation of oxygen isotopes between water and calcite

Oxygen isotope fractionation in the precipitation of calcite and aragonite

The "clumped isotope" paleotemperature method for carbonates

Rock-water ratios and the stability of δ13C and δ18O values in carbonate materials

Isotopic mixing curves: a carbonate example

Carbonate materials

Earth's naturally occurring carbonate materials

The many wonders of CaCO3

C and O stable isotope compositions of Cenozoic Earth-surface materials of all sorts, Part I

C and O stable isotope compositions of Cenozoic Earth-surface materials of all sorts, Part II

Carbonate speleothems

Degassing of CO2 in caves and precipitation of speleothems

Dating speleothems: Radiometric dating via U-series disequilibrium I

Dating speleothems: Radiometric dating via U-series disequilibrium II

Controls on the δ13C and δ18O of spelean CaCO3

C and O stable isotope compositions of speleothems

Sources of C and O in the CaCO3 of speleothems, or, Why δ13C varies more than δ18O in speleothems

Isotopic evolution of cave waters with degassing of CO2 and evaporation

Pedogenic carbonates

C and O stable isotope compositions of pedogenic carbonates

δ13C and δ18O profiles in pedogenic carbonates

Pedogenic CaCO3 (caliche) as a record of ancient atmospheric concentration of CO2

Marine carbonates and the carbon cycle

Variation in concentration of solutes in the oceans III: Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Variation in concentration of solutes in the oceans IIIa: Carbon dioxide and the carbonate compensation depth (CCD)

Variation in δ13C of dissolved inorganic carbon in the oceans

The carbon, and carbonate, cycle

Box models of the long-term carbon cycle

The δ13C record of marine limestones

The δ18O record of marine limestones

Boron in marine calcite as an indicator of ancient PCO2

Lithification of sediments to sedimentary rocks I: Proceses

Lithification of sediments to sedimentary rocks II: Possible pathways

Lithification of sediments to sedimentary rocks III: Compaction

Lithification of sediments to sedimentary rocks IV: Cementation

Solutions, CO₂, HCO₃^-, CO₃^2- and CaCO₃

Variation in the dissociation constants of H₂CO₃ and HCO₃^- with temperature and salinity

P_CO2 of atmospheres and pH and HCO₃ ^- concentration of solutions

Ca²⁺ and HCO₃^- concentrations in natural waters. Part I: a plot

Ca²⁺ and HCO₃^- concentrations in natural waters. Part Ia: an inset

Ca²⁺ and HCO₃^- concentrations in natural waters. Part Ib: an inset

Ca²⁺ and HCO₃^- concentrations in natural waters. Part II: observations

The reaction for equilibrium of CaCO₃ with natural waters

Reactions for the dissolution of CaCO₃

Reactions for the precipitation of CaCO₃

Degassing of CO₂ and precipitation of CaCO₃

Adsorption of hydrated Mg²⁺ on calcite as an inhibitor of calcite growth

CaCO₃ minerals

Factors favoring precipitation of CaCO₃ as calcite or as aragonite

Adsorption of hydrated Mg²⁺ on calcite as an inhibitor of calcite growth

Density of Minerals VI: The effect of structural H₂O

Density of Minerals VII: The effect of OH^- in oxysalts

Rock-water ratios and the stability of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values in carbonate materials

The many wonders of CaCO₃

Degassing of CO₂ in caves and precipitation of speleothems

Controls on the δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of spelean CaCO₃

Sources of C and O in the CaCO₃ of speleothems, or,
Why δ¹³C varies more than δ¹⁸O in speleothems

Isotopic evolution of cave waters with degassing of CO₂ and evaporation

δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O profiles in pedogenic carbonates

Pedogenic CaCO₃ (caliche) as a record of ancient atmospheric concentration of CO₂

Variation in concentration of solutes in the oceans III: Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

Variation in δ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon in the oceans

The δ¹³C record of marine limestones

The δ¹⁸O record of marine limestones

Boron in marine calcite as an indicator of ancient P_CO2