Hydrothermal alteration and earth surface rock weathering: A basalt example

Abstract

Geomorphologists have not devoted sufficient attention to the formation of clay minerals by hydrothermal activity. This paper describes the breakdown of freshly‐quarried basalt by cyclic wetting and drying. Breakdown is attributed to the swelling of hydrothermally‐derived smectite, and it is argued that the effects of endogenic processes can exert a significant control upon weathering behaviour under earth surface conditions. Copyright © 1982 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd