Aluminum cycle
Article
The aluminium cycle describes the movement of aluminium among rocks, soils, water, the atmosphere, and living organisms. Aluminium is abundant in Earth's crust, mainly within silicate minerals, but it has no known essential biological role for most organisms.
Weathering releases aluminium from minerals into soils and water. Its mobility depends strongly on acidity, organic matter, mineral surfaces, and the chemical form in which it occurs.
In neutral soils, aluminium is often relatively immobile, but acidic conditions can increase the concentration of dissolved aluminium ions. These ions can be toxic to plant roots, aquatic organisms, and soil microorganisms.
Sedimentation, mineral formation, burial, uplift, and renewed weathering return aluminium through long geological cycles. Mining, refining, industrial waste, acid deposition, and land disturbance can alter local aluminium flows.
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- Source / publisher: Wikipedia
- URL type: WWW
- Credits: Wikipedia
- URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum_cycle