Abstract
Carbonate sediments are a part of the carbon cycle (Fig. 1.14). CO2 in the atmosphere dissolves in water and makes carbonic acid (H2CO3) which reacts with Ca2+ or Mg2+ to precipitate CaCO3 or MgCO3. This process is an important sink for CO2. The rate of carbonate sedimentation globally is controlled by the supply of cations (mostly Ca2+ and Mg2+) into the ocean from rivers. This again is a function of the rate of weathering of Ca-bearing silicate minerals like plagioclase, pyroxene, amphibole and chlorite. Dissolution of basic rock along a spreading ridge may also add to the supply of calcium to the ocean water.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer Internation Publishing
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hanken, NM., Bjørlykke, K., Nielsen, J.K. (2015). Carbonate Sediments. In: Bjørlykke, K. (eds) Petroleum Geoscience. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34132-8_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34132-8_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-34131-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-34132-8
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)