Precipitation of Calcite in Natural Environments

Abstract

CO₂ flux into or out of water influences the saturation state with respect to calcite. The result is either dissolution or precipitation of calcite. Outgassing of CO₂ can lead to precipitation of calcite in surface streams, which are fed by karst springs, as observed by Jacobson and Usdowski (1975) and Michaelis et al. (1984). Other studies show that the states of the saturation index Ω up to ten can be maintained without precipitation (Suarez 1983, Herman and Lorak 1987). In this chapter we will discuss these processes with respect to precipitation kinetics of calcite and its dependence on the flow properties of the precipitating solution.