Geomorphic processes, climate, soils, and biota work on a large scale to create the observed physical landscape. At a microscale, weathering contributes as part of the geomorphic system, and an important objective of weathering research is the development of models that explain and predict rates of chemical reactions at the earth's surface. Quartz is among the most common of terrestrial minerals, and it is regarded as one of the most resistant to chemical weathering. The processes of quartz weathering is not as well understood as those associated with other, more weatherable materials. This project seeks to understand how quartz decrystallization, a micro-weathering phenomenon, is influenced by climate, biota, geochemistry, and time. It will also determine a chemical signature for quartz decrystallization that may be useful for paleo-environmental research. The project will sample quartz from a constant geomorphic environment and time, but with varying climate and vegetation. Field analysis combined with laboratory microanalytical techniques will be used to quantify the physical and chemical characteristics of quartz decrystallization. These characteristics will be compared with time, temperature, moisture, geochemical environment, biochemical environment, geomorphology, and scale by means of statistical tests. This research will define the elements of quartz decrystallization, and it will contribute to a greater understanding of weathering processes as a whole. This is important because weathering processes are closely connected to geomorphic processes, soil development, and sedimentology. The findings should also amplify the importance of quartz in geochronology, paleo-environmental research, and archaeology.
