Čurlík J. & Kolesár M., 2014: Inorganic carbon sequestration in authigenic carbonates and their distribution in loessic soils: some micromorphological aspects. Acta Geologica Slovaca, 6, 2, 191–202. (in Slovak with English summary)

Anorganická sekvestrácia uhlíka v autigénnych  karbonátoch a ich distribúcia v pôdach na spraši: mikromorfologické aspekty

Inorganic carbon sequestration in authigenic carbonates and their distribution in loessic soils: some micromorphological aspects

Ján Čurlík¹ & Martin Kolesár²

¹Svätoplukova 24, 902 01 Pezinok; curlikj@gmail.com
²Katedra geochémie, Prírodovedecká fakulta, Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Mlynská dolina G, 842 15 Bratislava

Abstract

The presented paper is dealing with inorganic carbon sequestration into soil authigenic carbonates. Processes of authigenic carbonates formation are part of terrestrial biogeochemical cycle of carbon, which starts with co-accumulation of Ca and oxalic acid in plants. The Ca-oxalates produced by decay of plant debris are transformed into authigenic carbonates (calcites), and represent long term sink of carbon into the soil. In addition to Ca-oxalates, Ca and Mg ions necessary for carbonate formation comes also from air (precipitation, dust), decaying organic matter, subsurface water flow and mineral weathering. The distribution pattern of calcites with depth on loessic soils of SW Slovakia indicate that soil water regime has played a decisive role at vertical redistribution of individual forms of calcites. This is based on results of the micromorphological study. In the paper we also support inorganic origin of needle calcites zones and formation of micritic calcite horizons due to gradual coalescing of needle calcites.

Key words: inorganic carbon sequestration, authigenic carbonates, Ca-oxalate-carbonate pathway, needle shaped and micritic calcites in soil, loessic soils, micromorphological aspects

Manuscript received: 2014-01-20

Revised version accepted: 2014-10-07