Abstract

FORSS*, Antoni  and  VADELL, Jaume. Mineralogy of fine earth and clays in a paleosol sequence on the island of Mallorca. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2022, vol.45, n.4, pp.111-120.  Epub Dec 01, 2022. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.28404.

A sequence of overlapping paleosols developed in the Quaternary is studied. Along a soil profile of 12.5 m have been differentiated eighteen horizons. For each horizon, the mineral content of the fine earth (< 2 mm) and the clay minerals corresponding to the <0.002 mm fraction have been quantified. The most common minerals of these horizons are phyllosilicates. Calcium carbonates are also very abundant, but with important differences between horizons, from decarbonated ones to others in which carbonates constitute the main fraction. Quartz, K-feldspars and plagioclases are other common components. Illites are the most common clay mineral, occurring in pure form and forming interstratified illite-smectite mixtures. Chlorites and kaolinites are other clay species present in all horizons. The mineral composition of the whole of horizons of these paleosols reveals a common origin of the materials that constitute them.

Keywords : Mediterranean soils; Luvisol; Calcisol; illites; interstratified illite-smectite.

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