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9
CH3041
BOWEN’S RXN SERIES
• The rates of weathering of silicate bedrock are dependent on the stability and solubility of the parent minerals.
•The degree of
polymerisation
controls the
stability.
• Bowen’s
reaction series
Increasing
   Temp.
mineral xyst
       in
   magma
   Increasing
susceptibility
          to
  weathering
Ferromagnesian series 
Olivine
 
Pyroxene
 
Amphibole
 
       Biotite
Muscovite 
 
         Quartz         
           Felsic series
  Ca-feldspar
 
 
  Na-feldspar
  
 
  K-feldspar
 
 
 
 
(monomer)  ionic      (framework 100pm)
 
(chain)
                    (framework 102pm)
 
(double chain)
(framework 138pm)
      
       (sheet)
  
         (sheet)     
 
                    
               (framework)
K-feldspar “cage”



                           
                          H+ opens the cage