Limestone Features灰岩特征.ppt

Limestone Features Miss James Higher Limestone scenery exposure of very extensive limestone pavements may be partly an example of the stripping of soil by moving ice during the last glaciation period more than 10,000 years ago Limestone Blue area Carboniferous Limestone Yorkshire Dales Limestone consists mainly of calcium carbonate. There are several different types of limestone including Chalk, Jurassic and Carboniferous. The Carboniferous Limestone can be attacked by the weathering process of carbonation. Think about chemical weathering. This weathering contains a very distinctive type of landscape, with both surface and underground features. The most distinct landscape of this kind is found in the Yorkshire Dales. Here the limestone forms upland areas, capped by impermeable rocks above, and separated by flat-floored and steep-sided glaciated valley’s called dales. Glaciers covered this area and as well as sculpting the valley’s, also removed loose rock and soil to expose the limestone which was then more open to chemical weathering. CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 = Ca(HCO3)2 Calcium carbonate + Water + Carbon dioxide = Calcium bicarbonate Yorkshire Dales Limestone Surface and rain water do not flow far on exposed limestone, but infiltrate rapidly into the rock and soil. Where a joint or intersection of joints has been greatly weathered or dissolved water can pass down through the limestone Yorkshire Dales Joints and Bedding Planes This is hard grey rock, laid down in layers on the sea bed. It occurs in massive blocks bordered by horizontal bedding planes and vertical joints. These bedding planes and joints make the rock permeable i.e. water can pass through it. Clints and Grikes Clints and Grikes These are flat areas of exposed limestone. Surface soil was probably removed by the glaciers. Carbonation weathering has enlarged joints to give wide gaps called grikes. The stones left are called clints. Some are 0.5m wide and 2m deep. Sink/Swallow holes Swallow holes In t