Mineral-Water Reaction Kinetics: From Molecules to Mountains

The fate of mountains is decided at the nanometer space- and femto-second time-scale. Consequently, our understanding of mineral-water reaction kinetics requires an in depth understanding of the underlying molecular processes and - in addition - demands an ability to connect the microscopic information with the macroscopic geologic bodies formed over millions of years. Today, petrologists can build on a wealth of existing data and observations, utilize sophisticated analytical tools and supercomputers for their studies. Still, the critical question is this: Is there actually enough information stored in a rock to decipher the kinetics that governed its formation? While this critical question remains yet unanswered, we have the opportunity to study water-rock reaction kinetics in the laboratory and develop a fundamental understanding of the reaction kinetics that control rock-forming processes. A combination of microscopic experimental techniques and quantum chemistry-based computer simulations provides the basis for new geochemical hypotheses. These may than be explored and tested in natural rock samples.