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How can water molecules become part of a rock?

April 26, 2017molecules rock water

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How can water molecules become part of a rock?

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Hot water forced through tiny fractures and pores in the mantle rock dissolves some silica from the rock into it. This silica-rich water then chemically reacts with mantle rock minerals like olivine to produce serpentine minerals by the formula below: 3Mg2SiO4 (olivine) + SiO2 + 2H2O converts to 2Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 (serpentine) In this chemical reaction, the water is converted to hydroxyl groups (OH) that are part of the serpentine minerals.