Mechanisms and dynamics of mineral-fluid reactions from Near Surface to Upper Earth Crust

This thesis aims to advance our understanding of the varying factors that control important mineral-fluid reactions in the Earth’s crust; specifically, this thesis provides in-depth mechanistic insights into the factors controlling dolomitization and potassic/sodic alteration. On one hand, we used the Ca-Mg-carbonate system as a model to address the effects of fluid to rock ratio and pore pressure on the fate of fluid-driven reactions. On the other hand, we used model reactions among alkali-feldspars, the most abundant mineral in the Earth’s crust, to show that minor amounts of fluorine can improve the kinetics of widespread sodic and potassic alteration.