Premium
Clay Mineralogy of Soils Developed Partially from Volcanic Ash
Author(s) -
Pettapiece W. W.,
Pawluk S.
Publication year - 1972
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/sssaj1972.03615995003600030040x
Subject(s) - volcanic ash , illite , podzol , geology , clay minerals , soil water , chlorite , allophane , volcano , eluvium , geochemistry , volcanic glass , mineralogy , pedogenesis , soil science , volcanic rock , quartz , paleontology
Luvisols (Alfisols) in the Front Ranges of the Canadian Rocky Mountains of west‐central Alberta have several distinctive features including surface horizons with a variable volcanic ash content and reddish Bt (B2t) horizons characterized by the presence of expanding clays. A study of the clay fractions indicates a marked increase in the content of smectitic clay in the sola and particularly in the Bt (argillic) horizons compared with the parent materials. Also, the expanding component is poorly organized and appears to result from the synthesis of amorphous material, probably from a volcanic ash source, accompanied by some degradation of primary chlorite and illite. The clay mineral profile does not fit the concepts generally held for lessivé soils (Luvisols, Alfisols, Sols Lessivé, pseudo‐podzolic soils) and in some portions of the sola is similar to that noted in true podzols.