Accelerated chemical weathering tests in laboratory by using the double Soxhlet extractor: Application to South Korean granitic rocks

Abstract : A double Soxhlet extractor was used in the laboratory to perform accelerated chemical weathering tests in order to simulate the leaching of granitic rocks under tropical climate. Several types of granitic rocks corresponding to various initial weathering grades were sampled on two test sites in South Korea. They were subjected to leaching with hot and pure water in the double soxhlet extractor in order to measure the evolution of some of their physical and mechanical properties. Tests showed a decrease of the physical characteristics, more particularly the P-wave velocity and quick water absorption ratio. This decrease mainly occurred during the first leaching cycles. Uniaxial compressive strength also decreased during the leaching test, and the fresher the granitic rock, the most important the UCS decrease. This kind of test allows the evaluation of the chemical weathering effects and also the estimation of the long-term mechanical properties of the rock