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Significance of Sulfide Oxidation in Soil Salinization in Southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada
Author(s) -
Mermut A. R.,
Arshad M. A.
Publication year - 1987
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/sssaj1987.03615995005100010050x
Subject(s) - sulfate , soil water , sulfide , oil shale , environmental chemistry , cretaceous , salinity , geology , soil salinity , geochemistry , chemistry , mineralogy , soil science , oceanography , organic chemistry , paleontology
Several deep soil columns in the Weyburn area, Saskatchewan, Canada, show features related to S 2‐ oxidation, including the presence of high amounts of SO 2‐ 4 salts and low pH. A soil 4‐km west of Cedoux that had 1‐m layer of till underlain by Cretaceous marine shale was selected to characterize these features. X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and chemical techniques confirmed the presence of well‐developed crystals of natrojarosite between the 100‐ to 600‐cm depth, and sulfides below 550 cm. Sulfate was the predominant water‐soluble anion, with Na + followed by Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ as major cations. Accumulation of sulfate in the Cedoux soil and similar soils in the area was attributed to sulfide oxidation and hydrolysis of natrojarosite. Sulfate salts probably are still produced at present. Due to their mobility and recycling in the soils and Cretaceous marine shale it was difficult to bring to light the genesis of salts in Saskatchewan.