Figure 5. Estimation of key chemical and hydrologic parameters from iron oxide cementation patterns.

The rate constant for iron oxide precipitation can be estimated from the spacing of nodules using Equation (12) (A). Symbol x is the laboratory measurement of hematite dissolution rate³⁹. For a given reaction rate constant, the groundwater flow rate can be estimated from the spacing of iron oxide bands using Equation (13) (B). Note that Equation (13) is valid only for relatively large flow rates. Vertical bars indicate the ranges of reaction rate constant and groundwater flow rate estimated from pattern sizes. φ_s = 0.15,  = 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ mole/cm³ solution,  = 10⁻¹¹ mole/m²/s, Q₀ = 10⁻³ mole/cm³ bulk sediment,  = 0.² m²/cm³ bulk sediment, β = 0.2, and D₀ = 510⁻⁵ cm²/s (B).