Acicular crystals. In other
cases the crystallization produces acicular crystals (from 2 µm
in diameter and up to 30 µm long) of calcite, called whiskers. They occur inside discrete pores (channels, vughs), forming
pseudomycelia, build up of a network of more or less interwoven crystals
inside the voids. They are found preferably in the upper parts of calcitic horizons
and represent a very typical case of the crystallization of pedogenic carbonates.
They form a first phase of precipitation of carbonates in the soil and are
supposed to be formed at the expense of oversaturated solutions. |
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