Mineral Replacement of Plant Roots in Fluvial Sediments of the Link Channel of Krishna River, Near Yedurwadi, Belgaum District, Karnataka

Abstract

Micromorphology, XRD analyses and SEM studies of rhizoliths from Late Middle Pleistocene yellowish brown silty fluvial sediments of Yedurwadi reveal that calcium carbonate has a localized source. Silica and calcium carbonate are formed by the plant roots through their metabolic activity creating a favourable microenvironment for the processes of SiO₂ and CaCO₃ precipitation and replacement.