Crystallization of carbonates takes place through direct precipitation from the soil solutions. Fundamentally three types of crystals can be distinguished:
Microcrystals. Crystallization produces, in most cases, very small, equidimensional crystals, generally micrite, because normally the precipitation takes place quickly. | |
Acicular crystals. In other cases the crystallization produces acicular crystals (from 2 µm in diameter and up to 30 µm long) of calcite, called whiskers. They occur inside discrete pores (channels, vughs), forming pseudomycelia, build up of a network of more or less interwoven crystals inside the voids. They are found preferably in the upper parts of calcitic horizons and represent a very typical case of the crystallization of pedogenic carbonates. They form a first phase of precipitation of carbonates in the soil and are supposed to be formed at the expense of oversaturated solutions. |
|
Coarser crystals. Occasionally, when conditions are more favorable for crystallization, carbonates precipitate as crystals of large size (>50 microns). |