Earth:Goldich dissolution series

Short description: Pattern predicting the relative stability or weathering rate of various minerals

Discontinuous Series (Mafic minerals)

Continuous Series (Felsic minerals)

High

Olivine

Plagioclase (Calcium rich)

Pyroxene

Amphibole

Biotite (Black Mica)

Plagioclase (Sodium rich)

Relative Weathering potential

Orthoclase (K-feldspar)

Muscovite (White Mica)

Quartz (Felsic mineral)

Low

The Goldich dissolution series is a way of predicting the relative stability or weathering rate of various minerals on the Earth's surface. S. S. Goldich came up with the series in 1938 after studying soil profiles. He found that minerals that form at higher temperatures and pressures are less stable on the surface than minerals that form at lower temperatures and pressures. This pattern follows the same pattern of the Bowen's reaction series, with the minerals that are first to crystallize also the first the undergo chemical weathering.

While Goldich’s original order of mineral weathering potential was qualitative, later work by Kowalski and Rimstidt placed in the series in quantitative terms.  Michal Kowalski and J. Donald Rimstidt performed an analysis of mechanical and chemical grain weathering, and demonstrated that the average lifetime of chemically weathered detrital grains quantitatively fit the Goldich sequence extremely well. This helped to supplement the real-world applicability of the dissolution series.

Olivine weathering to iddingsite within a mantle xenolith, a common reaction within the series

Saponite is a common weathering product of ultramafic and mafic rocks. It is found in high-pH evaporite lakes and in association with basalts or serpentines.