Salt weathering
Chemical Process (Liquid-phase Growth) - Ground Surface
Required Geological Setting
Neogene and Quaternary sediments
Occurrence
Minerals precipitated in the process of water evaporation on the surface of host rocks in the dry climate. Weathering is accelated by growth of water-soluble minerals on the rock surface, and characteristic elipsoidal holes, Tafoni, are formed. Minerals by this process usually grow in winter in Japan. Honeycomb weathering frequently observed near seashores is also considered as tafoni.
Distribution of minerals associated with salt weathering processes described in this site. Yellow zones are Neogene and Quaternary sediments.
Reported Minerals
- Alunogen
- Gypsum
- Alum
- Jarosite
- Thenardite
- Epsomite
- Halotrichite
- Tamarugite
- Hexahydrite
Localities
- Yoshimi-Hyakuana (Alunogen)
- Sagiri valley (Pickeringite)
- Iwadono Kannon (Epsomite)
- Oya (Mirabilite)
- Oya Quarry (Mirabilite)
- Desert Cave Hotel (Filiform gypsum)