TY - JOUR

T1 - Mineralogical composition of red-earth deposits and its effect on soil formation in the northern Taiga of European Russia

AU - Lesovaya, S. N.

AU - Goilo, E. A.

AU - Chizhikova, N. P.

PY - 2005/8

Y1 - 2005/8

N2 - Our studies have shown that the initially homogeneous red-earth deposits serve as soil-forming rock for both well-differentiated and slightly differentiated soils. The textural differentiation of the soil profile is governed by the destruction (acidic hydrolysis) and lessivage of clay minerals; it is also accompanied by deep transformation of clay minerals (from chlorite to vermiculite). The weak differentiation of the soil profile is the result of metamorphic transformation of the soil-forming material with some browning of the topsoil and low intensity of lessivage processes. Different tendencies in the soil formation are related to the mineralogical composition of the red-earth deposits. The presence of carbonates and the relatively high hematite content (responsible for the bright red color of the deposits) prevent soil differentiation. Slightly differentiated raw-humus brown taiga soils (burozems) are developed in the case of the shallow occurrence of calcareous material (calcite, dolomite) or in the case of carbonate-free heavy clay substrate with a predominance of hydromicas in the fine silt and clay fractions. Well-differentiated podzolic soils are formed on loamy carbonate-free or deeply (>100 cm) calcareous red-earth deposits with the clay fraction represented by mica-smectitic minerals.

AB - Our studies have shown that the initially homogeneous red-earth deposits serve as soil-forming rock for both well-differentiated and slightly differentiated soils. The textural differentiation of the soil profile is governed by the destruction (acidic hydrolysis) and lessivage of clay minerals; it is also accompanied by deep transformation of clay minerals (from chlorite to vermiculite). The weak differentiation of the soil profile is the result of metamorphic transformation of the soil-forming material with some browning of the topsoil and low intensity of lessivage processes. Different tendencies in the soil formation are related to the mineralogical composition of the red-earth deposits. The presence of carbonates and the relatively high hematite content (responsible for the bright red color of the deposits) prevent soil differentiation. Slightly differentiated raw-humus brown taiga soils (burozems) are developed in the case of the shallow occurrence of calcareous material (calcite, dolomite) or in the case of carbonate-free heavy clay substrate with a predominance of hydromicas in the fine silt and clay fractions. Well-differentiated podzolic soils are formed on loamy carbonate-free or deeply (>100 cm) calcareous red-earth deposits with the clay fraction represented by mica-smectitic minerals.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=25844464073&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:25844464073

VL - 38

SP - 887

EP - 896

JO - Eurasian Soil Science

JF - Eurasian Soil Science

SN - 1064-2293

IS - 8

ER -