dissolution

geology

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June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Dissolution in geology refers to the process where rocks and minerals are broken down and dissolved by circulating groundwater. This is a key component of chemical weathering.1

Solution caves, common in karst terrain, are formed when groundwater, often acidic, dissolves limestone or dolomite bedrock. This process removes rock material through underground routes, leading to features like sinkholes and extensive cave systems.2

Weathering, in general, is the disintegration and alteration of rock at or near the Earth's surface through physical, chemical, and biological processes. Dissolution is a specific type of chemical weathering where minerals are dissolved into water.13

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cementation
The reverse process is called dissolution. There is evidence that dissolution has occurred in calcareous sandstones, in which case the calcareous cement or grains are broken down in the same manner as the solution of limestones. The frosted and etched surfaces of quartz grains in some friable and loosely cemented…
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The reverse process is called dissolution. There is evidence that dissolution has occurred in calcareous sandstones, in which case the calcareous cement or grains are broken down in the same manner as the solution of limestones. The frosted and etched surfaces of quartz grains in some friable and loosely cemented…
Read More