Effect of Rock Properties on Rates of Salt Weathering: A Laboratory Experiment

Abstract

To elucidate the effect of rock properties on rates of salt weathering, a laboratory experiment was carried out usingseven kinds of rock (two granites, two sandstones, welded tuff, tuff and porous rhyolite) and saturated salt solution ofNa2SO4. Some rock specimen had been gradually suffered salt fretting under the wetting and drying cycle condition. SinceP-wave velocity decreases due to salt fretting, the rate of weathering was obtained from the reduction rates of P-wavevelocity. On the other hand, several rock properties such as pore size distribution and rock strength were measured. Acomparison between the rate of salt weathering and rock properties suggests that salt weathering is more rapid in therocks with a larger proportion of micro-pores and/or lower tensile strength.