CARBONATE MINERALS, OCEAN CHEMISTRY, AND PLATE TECTONICS The Earth’s surface is constantly changing, and one of the major forces behind this change is plate tectonics. Beneath our feet, massive plates of the Earth’s crust move slowly over time, driving the formation of mountains, ocean basins, and even influencing the chemistry of our oceans. A key part of this process involves the weathering of carbonate minerals, which are commonly found in rocks like limestone. When rainwater naturally slight