@article{fdi:010068735,
  title = {{R}egolith production and chemical weathering of granitic rocks in central {C}hile},
  author = {{V}azquez, {M}. and {R}amirez, {S}. and {M}orata, {D}. and {R}eich, {M}. and {B}raun, {J}ean-{J}acques and {C}arretier, {S}{\'e}bastien},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{W}e have evaluated the long-term chemical and physical weathering mass balance of an anomalously thick saprolite profile (>30 in thickness) developed in granitic rocks near {C}uracavi, {C}oastal {R}ange of central {C}hile. {T}he results of geochemical mass balance calculations for the regolith profile point to a moderate depletion for {N}a and {S}r due to the plagioclase dissolution and precipitation of kaolinite. {F}urthermore, silicon shows a predominantly constant behaviour along the profile that is indicative of incongruent weathering of plagioclase, strongly suggesting that quartz dissolution conditions are not reached. {I}n addition, low depletion of {K}, {M}g, {C}a, {R}b, and {B}a in the saprolite indicates a low degree of {K}-feldspar, biotite and hornblende weathering. {D}enudation rates calculated using cosmogenic {B}e-10 data range from 20 to 70 m/{M}a. {I}f the saprolite thickness has reached a steady-state condition, the reported denudation rates lead to mineral residence times in the upper part of the saprolite profile of about 0.5 to 1.8 {M}a. {W}ith such duration a higher weathering degree than observed at {C}uracavi would be expected. {T}his apparent contradiction might be explained if all of the weatherable plagioclase has been dissolved under the present-day precipitation and temperature conditions of the {C}uracavi region. {T}herefore, we propose that the {C}uracavi profile could be in local equilibrium with respect to the weatherable fraction of plagioclase. {A} local equilibrium regime may be reached when the overall degree of depletion is small in a weathering profile. {U}niform elemental distribution and low weathering degree in the thick weathering profile at {C}uracavi defy the traditional notion of weathering regimes and reveal the importance of exploratory studies in order to better understand weathering process in {M}editerranean and semi-arid climate regions.},
  keywords = {{C}ritical zone ; {C}entral {C}hile ; {C}hemical weathering ; {C}osmogenic beryllium ; {G}eomorphology ; {CHILI}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{C}hemical {G}eology},
  volume = {446},
  numero = {{N}o {S}p{\'e}cial},
  pages = {87--98},
  ISSN = {0009-2541},
  year = {2016},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.09.023},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010068735},
}