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Chemical and Mineralogical Properties of an Orangeburg Profile
Author(s) -
Nash V. E.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1963.03615995002700060035x
Subject(s) - kaolinite , weathering , quartz , chlorite , vermiculite , clay minerals , mica , montmorillonite , mineralogy , geology , mineral , dissolution , amorphous solid , geochemistry , chemistry , paleontology , organic chemistry
The Orangeburg soil used in this study was formed from unconsolidated sand of the Kosciusko formation. Weathering of this profile has been intense due to the porous nature of the sand and warm, humid climatic conditions. Methods used in this study consisted of X‐ray diffraction, DTA, an alkali differential dissolution technique for amorphous constituents, heavy mineral analysis of sand, total elemental analysis of the clay fractions, and surface area measurements. Minerals present in clay fractions are kaolinite, amorphous material, mica, a 14Å. montmorillonite‐vermiculite‐chlorite intergrade and quartz, in approximate order of abundance. Kaolinite and amorphous material increases whereas quartz decreases with profile depth in the coarse clay fraction. According to Jackson's weathering sequence this would place the lower horizons in a higher weathering stage than the surface horizon. The evidence gained in this study suggests that coarse quartz particles are being broken down to smaller particles resulting in this apparently anomalous sequence. The 14Å. intergrade mineral is more prevalent and stable in the surface horizons and apparently forms from montmorillonite.