Quartz dissolution associated with magnesium silicate hydrate cement precipitation

Abstract. Quartz has been replaced by magnesium silicate hydrate cement at the Feragen ultramafic body in south-east Norway. This occurs in deformed and recrystallized quartz grains deposited as glacial till covering part of the ultramafic body. Where the ultramafic body is exposed, weathering leads to high pH (~10), Mg-rich fluids. The dissolution rate of the quartz is about 3 orders of magnitude higher than experimentally derived rate equations suggest under the prevailing conditions. Quartz dissolution and cement precipitation starts at intergranular grain boundaries that act as fluid pathways through the recrystallized quartz. Etch pits are also extensively present at the quartz surfaces as result of preferential dissolution at dislocation sites. Transmission electron microscopy revealed an amorphous silica layer with a thickness of 100–200 nm around weathered quartz grains. We suggest that the amorphous silica is a product of interface-coupled dissolution-precipitation and that the amorphous silica subsequently reacts with the Mg-rich, high pH bulk fluid to precipitate magnesium silicate hydrate cement, allowing for further quartz dissolution and locally a complete replacement of quartz by cement. The cement is the natural equivalent of magnesium silicate hydrate cement (M-S-H), which is currently of interest for nuclear waste encapsulation or for environmentally friendly building cement, but not yet developed for commercial use. This study provides new insights that could potentially contribute in the further development of M-S-H cement.