GEOCHEMICALLY CONTROLLED CALCITE PRECIPITATION BY CO_2-OUTGASSING: FIELD MEASUREMENTS OF PRECIPITATION RATES IN COMPARISON TO THEORETICAL PREDICTIONS

A small spring fed stream precipitates calcite by outgassing of CO2 due to chemically controlled inorganic processes. The chemical composition of the water was measured along 9 stations downstream with respect to Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+,K+, Cl-, carbonate alkalinlty, and SO42-. Temperature and pH were measured in situ. Small rectangular shaped tablets of limestone from the area were immersed into the stream for short periods and water analyses were carried out at the same time. From weight increase of the tablets, precipitation rates