Karbonaatteissa

Karbonaatteissa is a Finnish term used in geology and geochemistry to refer to processes, reactions, and properties associated with carbonate minerals and carbonate-bearing environments. It covers the chemistry of carbonate species in aqueous solutions, the mineralogy of carbonates, and the interactions between water, dissolved carbon dioxide, and carbonate minerals within rocks such as limestone and dolostone.

In carbonate systems, the dominant species include dissolved CO2, carbonic acid, bicarbonate (HCO3−), and carbonate (CO3^2−). The distribution of these species depends on pH and salinity and governs the buffering capacity of carbonate rocks. Common carbonate minerals are calcite and aragonite (both CaCO3) and dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2). These minerals form through abiotic precipitation from supersaturated waters or biologically mediated processes, and they can dissolve when acidic fluids are present, releasing Ca2+ and carbonate into solution.

Karbonaatteissa also encompasses karst hydrology and weathering, where dissolution of carbonate rocks creates features such as caves and sinkholes. Isotopic analysis, including δ13C and δ18O in carbonate minerals, is widely used to reconstruct past climates and environmental conditions.

Applications and significance include natural carbon storage in sedimentary basins, buffering of ocean and freshwater pH, and industrial uses of carbonate minerals in cement, lime, and ceramic production. The study of karbonaatteissa integrates mineralogy, geochemistry, sedimentology, and ecological perspectives to understand carbon cycling and rock-water interactions in carbonate-rich settings.