Chemical and mineralogical effects of acid deposition on Shelburne Marble and Salem Limestone test samples placed at four NAPAP weather-monitoring sites

Journal Article · · American Mineralogist; (USA)

OSTI ID:7119268

Ross, M; McGee, E S ^[1]; Ross, D R ^[2]

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1. Geological Survey, Reston, VA (USA)
2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (USA)

Marble and limestone briquettes were placed at National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) test sites in North Carolina, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and New York to determine mineralogical changes that might be attributed to acid deposition. Samples have been examined after exposures of 1 and 2 yr, and the most significant change is the development of a gypsum-rich spot on the sheltered side of the briquettes. X-ray and SEM analyses reveal that gypsum plus calcite is present within the spot area, but outside this area and on the upper surface of the briquettes, only calcite is detected. Rounded particles, morphologically similar to various C soots, were also observed, and it is suggested that these may catalyze the oxidation of SO{sub 2} to H{sub 2}SO{sub 4}. The atmospheric chemistry relating to acid deposition is presented and interpreted in terms of the gas concentrations and rain chemistry measured at the four sites. Statistical analysis of possible relationships between various ion concentrations from the sites reveals some significant correlations. Strong correlations are found between SO{sup 2{minus}}{sub 4} and H{sup +}, between NO{sup {minus}}{sub 3} and H{sup +}, and between H{sup +} and SO{sup 2{minus}}{sub 4} + NO{sup {minus}}{sub 3}. There are also high correlations between SO{sup 2{minus}}{sub 4} and NO{sup {minus}}{sub 3} at three sites. A model, based on the sequence of salts observed to crystallize from a progressively more concentrated solution, is presented to explain the presence of the spot on the undersides of the briquettes. Two possible crystallization sequences are outlined: first for the system CaCO{sub 3}-CaSO{sub 4}-H{sub 2}O and second for the system CaCO{sub 3}-CaSO{sub 4}-Ca(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}-H{sub 2}O. It is proposed that the most significant stone damage is due to salt build up on and within the stone rather than due to stone removal through dissolution.

• OSTI ID: 7119268
• Journal Information: American Mineralogist; (USA), Journal Name: American Mineralogist; (USA) Vol. 74:3-4; ISSN AMMIA; ISSN 0003-004X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID RAIN
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM NITRATES
CALCIUM SULFATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBONATES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COHERENT SCATTERING
CORRELATIONS
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALLIZATION
DEPOSITS
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION IV
GYPSUM
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LIMESTONE
MARBLE
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MICROSCOPY
MICROSTRUCTURE
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NAPAP
NEW JERSEY
NEW YORK
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POROSITY
PRECIPITATION
RAIN
ROCKS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SCATTERING
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOOT
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFURIC ACID
TIME DEPENDENCE
USA
WASHINGTON DC
WATER CHEMISTRY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION