• 责任者：Xu Zemin (Department of Civil Engineering ; Kunming University of Science and Technology ; Kunming 650224 ; China)
• 刊名：Earth Science Frontiers
• 出版年：2009
• 卷期：16(3)
• 关键词：结晶岩 ; crystalline rocks ; 碎屑岩 ; clastic rocks ; 风化岩土 ; weathered materials
• 页码：p.364-373
• 图表：8 illus., 2 tables, 12 refs.
• 分类号：1702
• issnNo：ISSN1005-2321
• isbnNo：CN11-3370/P

///The saprolites derived from crystalline rock and clasolite and developed in slope unsaturated zones are usually sandwiched between residual or colluvial soil and weathered bedrock, and retained large structures such as bedding or fractures from their parent rocks. The color difference between saprolite blocks and their parent rocks is obvious and the texture and structure of the parent rock can be preserved in saprolites. Secondary clay minerals, quartz and ferrohydrite are most common in saprolites. Saprolites have spongy micro-texture and are characterized by high porosity, high intrinsic permeability, high specific water capacity, low specific yield and low density. The development of saprolite is realized by the progressive propagation of the weathering front of low permeable rock blocks, and the condensate from the moisture and the unsaturated seepage flow are the key agents of the propagation process. The gaseous water molecules in unsaturated zones spread into the pore system of rock blocks at some depth and condense into liquid water which can dissolve rock-forming minerals.