Premium
Properties and Mineralogy of Soils Derived from Argillized Tuff in the Mount Carmel Region, Israel
Author(s) -
Singer A.
Publication year - 1968
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/sssaj1968.03615995003200060037x
Subject(s) - geology , weathering , saponite , clay minerals , montmorillonite , geochemistry , silt , kaolinite , mineralogy , carbonate , alluvium , calcium carbonate , chemistry , geomorphology , organic chemistry
Two representative profiles of simple horizonation derived from argillized tuff material in the Mount Carmel region of Israel, near the Mediterranean sea coast, were investigated in the field and laboratory. A shallow profile developed in situ on a partly argillized tuff. Calcium carbonate has accumulated in larger quantities in the solum than in the C. This is attributed to release of Ca by weathering of primary minerals in the solum. The main clay mineral in the parent material is an iron‐rich saponite, similar to cardenite. In the clay fraction from the upper soil horizons a second, dioctahedral montmorillonite appears also, accompanied by small quantities of kaolinite and halloysite. In a second profile, developed on alluvium derived from the alteration products of a slightly altered black tuff, calcium carbonate accumulation is greater in the C than in the solum. The <2 µ alteration product of the tuff rock, as well as the clay from the soil, consists chiefly of an iron‐rich saponite. In the clay fraction from the upper horizon of the profile the saponite is accompanied by a second, dioctahedral montmorillonite. In both profiles a large part of the clay fraction is in sand and silt‐sized aggregates which are very difficult to disperse. Soil genesis in both profiles seems essentially to have accomplished a slight accumulation of organic matter and organization of structural soil units, accumulation and some translocation of calcium carbonate and formation of a dioctahedral montmorillonite and some kaolinite and halloysite. The absence of a marked contamination of the sand and silt fractions by aeolian quartz indicates youthfulness of these soils.