Carbonate versus silicate weathering in the Raikhot watershed within the High Himalayan Crystalline Series

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 1998 Carbonate versus silicate weathering in the Raikhot watershed within the High Himalayan Crystalline Series Joel D. Blum; Joel D. Blum 1Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Carey A. Gazis; Carey A. Gazis 1Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew D. Jacobson; Andrew D. Jacobson 1Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C. Page Chamberlain C. Page Chamberlain 1Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1998) 26 (5): 411–414. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0411:CVSWIT>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Joel D. Blum, Carey A. Gazis, Andrew D. Jacobson, C. Page Chamberlain; Carbonate versus silicate weathering in the Raikhot watershed within the High Himalayan Crystalline Series. Geology 1998;; 26 (5): 411–414. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0411:CVSWIT>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The major element and Sr isotope geochemistry of surface waters, bedrock, and river sands was investigated in the Raikhot watershed within the High Himalayan Crystalline Series (HHCS) in northern Pakistan. Mass-balance calculations of mineral-weathering contributions to the dissolved flux of ions from the watershed indicate that 82% of the HCO3− flux is derived from the weathering of carbonate minerals and only 18% is derived from silicate weathering, even though the bedrock is predominantly quartzofeldspathic gneiss and granite with only ∼1% carbonate in the watershed. This study demonstrates the importance of trace amounts of bedrock carbonate in controlling the water chemistry of glacial watersheds. We suggest that the flux of Sr with a high 87Sr/86Sr ratio in the major Himalayan rivers may be derived in large part from weathering of trace amounts of calcite within the largely silicate HHCS. Models that use the flux of radiogenic Sr from the Himalayas as a proxy for silicate weathering rates may, therefore, overestimate the amount of CO2 consumption due to silicate weathering in the Himalaya. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.