المستخلص: |
The area understudy forms apart of the eastern flank of the Ingassana Hills Complex, structurally is seen traversed by a number of major dykes. The study area has exposed a variety of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The different rock types and their products have been studied in laboratory in thin sections for recognize the different mineral composition, microstructure and the effects of chemical and mechanical weathering processes. The trends of weathering in different types of rocks have been predicted with the help of ternary plots of single or group of elements that the weathered products of all types of rocks have lost silica, bases, ferrous oxide, gained ferric oxide, titanium, alumina, lattice crystal water and other most resistant elements on progressive weathering. The plots of WPI against PI have also provided significant clues for the trends of rock weathering. These plots have revealed a tendency towards the formation of clays and related minerals with the loss of highly soluble elements such as Si 4+, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg 2+, Fe2+ etc, and enrichment of A13+ , Fe 3+ , Ti4+ , H20+ etc, in their weathering products on progressive weathering . The amount of weathering that different types of rocks have undergone since their exposure to various weathering processes, has been estimated with the help of various weathering indices. Of the thirteen weathering indices presented, some of the weathering indices show a general decrease in their values for all types of rocks on progressive weathering.
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