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Origins of honeycomb weathering: The role of salts and wind

1999; Geological Society of America; Volume: 111; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/0016-7606(1999)111 2.3.co;2

1943-2674

Carlos Rodríguez‐Navarro, Eric Doehne, Eduardo Sebastián,

Geological and Geochemical Analysis

Research Article| August 01, 1999 Origins of honeycomb weathering: The role of salts and wind Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro; Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro 1Getty Conservation Institute, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 700, Los Angeles, California 90049 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eric Doehne; Eric Doehne 1Getty Conservation Institute, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 700, Los Angeles, California 90049 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eduardo Sebastian Eduardo Sebastian 2Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Universidad de Granada, Fuente Nueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro 1Getty Conservation Institute, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 700, Los Angeles, California 90049 Eric Doehne 1Getty Conservation Institute, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 700, Los Angeles, California 90049 Eduardo Sebastian 2Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Universidad de Granada, Fuente Nueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1999) 111 (8): 1250–1255. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1999)111 2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro, Eric Doehne, Eduardo Sebastian; Origins of honeycomb weathering: The role of salts and wind. GSA Bulletin 1999;; 111 (8): 1250–1255. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1999)111 2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Honeycomb weathering is a common surface phenomenon affecting a variety of rocks in a range of environments. It develops on building stones and it shapes ocean cliffs, rocks in hot deserts, and Arctic landscapes. Honeycomb weathering may also help alter rocks on other planets, such as Mars. Although first noted in the nineteenth century, its origins are still not well understood, and a dearth of laboratory experiments testing the many theories proposed for its development has added to the ambiguity. Incipient honeycomb weathering in a homogeneous limestone has been experimentally reproduced by wind exposure and salt crystallization. Our experiments show that heterogeneous wind flow over a stone surface is important in the development of this weathering pattern. Wind promotes evaporative salt growth between grains on a stone surface, resulting in the development of small, randomly distributed cavities. A reduction in air pressure within the cavities results in increased wind speed and rapid evaporation. A high evaporation rate and evaporative cooling of the saline solution in the cavity leads to more rapid and greater granular disintegration than in the surrounding areas. It seems that this local supersaturation and subsequent buildup of salt crystallization pressure ultimately result in the formation of honeycomb features. For the first time, these experimental results demonstrate the close relationship between salts, wind, and honeycomb weathering. They also offer new ways to understand the genesis of this striking and sometimes harmful weathering pattern. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.