Discussion on Silicate Weathering in the Huanghe Drainage Basin

We collected water and riverbed sediments samples from the main stream and some major tributaries of the Huanghe in June and July,2007 and discussed the chemical weathering processes of silicates.K+ and Na+ concentrations deriving from silicate weathering were identified,based on the source of K+ and Na+ in the Huanghe drainage basin and selected(K/Na) ratios of silicate weathering.Then Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations deriving from silicate weathering via the(Ca/Na) and(Mg/K) ratios of silicate from different riverbed sediments in the basin were obtained.Finally CO2 consumption rates by silicate weathering were estimated.When using the average discharge for many years of 58.02×109 km3/a and the average discharge of 24.83×109 km3/a in 2007,we estimate CO2 consumption rates to be 26.22×103 mol/km2/a and 11.19×103 mol/km2/a,respectivelly.