Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T23:22:31.542Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of slope aspect on transformation of clay minerals in Alpine soils

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

M. Egli ,
A. Mirabella ,
G. Sartori ,
D. Giaccai ,
R. Zanelli  and
M. Plötze
M. Egli*
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
A. Mirabella
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale per lo Studio e la Difesa del Suolo, Piazza D'Azeglio 30, 50121Firenze, Italy
G. Sartori
Affiliation:
Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Via Calepina 14, 38100 Trento, Italy
D. Giaccai
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale per lo Studio e la Difesa del Suolo, Piazza D'Azeglio 30, 50121Firenze, Italy
R. Zanelli
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
M. Plötze
Affiliation:
ETH Zurich, Institute for Geotechnical Engineering, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Two soil profile sequences on paragneiss debris in the Val di Rabbi (Northern Italy) along an altitude gradient ranging from 1200 to 2400 m a.s.l. were studied to evaluate the effect of aspect on the weathering of clay minerals. All the soils had a coarse structure, a sandy texture and a low pH. Greater weathering intensities of clay-sized phyllosilicates (greater content of smectites) were observed in soils on the north-facing slope. On the south-facing slope, smectite was found only in the surface horizon of the soil profile at the highest altitude. Hot citrate treatment of north-facing soils revealed the presence of low-charged 2:1 clay minerals, the expansion of which was hindered in the untreated state by interlayered polymers. However, the hot citrate treatment encountered some problems with the samples of the south-facing soils: as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the hot citrate treatment was unable to remove all interlayer Al polymers. The 2:1 phyllosilicates were not expanded by ethylene glycol solvation in several samples, although thermogravimetric analyses indicated the presence of clay minerals with interlayer H2O. At the same time, the collapse of clay minerals to 1.0 nm following K-saturation was evident. Theoretically, this should indicate that 2:1 phyllosilicates had no evident substitution of trioctahedral cations (Mg2+, Fe2+) by dioctahedral cations (Al3+ and Fe3+). X-ray diffraction analysis of the d060 region and determination of the layer charge of clay minerals by the long-chain (C18) alkylammonium ion, however, did not confirm this. A transformation from trioctahedral to dioctahedral species was observed and low-charge clay minerals (ξ ~0.30) were identified in the surface horizons of the south-facing sites. In the south-facing soils, the podzolization process was less pronounced because of a lower water flux through the soil and probably less complexing organic molecules that would remove the interlayer polymers. Besides the eluviation process, clay minerals underwent a process of ionic substitutions in the octahedral sheet that led to the reduction of the layer charge. This process was more obvious in the north-facing sites.

Keywords

smectiteNa-citrate treatmentweatheringsoilsmicroclimateaspect
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 42 , Issue 3 , September 2007 , pp. 373 - 398
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, C.E., Darmody, R.G., Thorn, C.E., Dixon, J.C. & Schlyter, P. (2001) Clay mineralogy, chemical weathering and landscape evolution in Artic-Alpine Sweden. Geoderma, 99, 277–294.Google Scholar
Anderson, H.A., Berrow, M.L., Farmer, V.C., Hepburn, A., Russell, J.D. & Walker, A.D. (1982) A reassessment of podzol formation processes. Journal of Soil Science, 33, 125–136.Google Scholar
Anderson, S.P., Drever, J.I. & Humphrey, N.F. (1997) Chemical weathering in glaciated environments. Geology, 25, 399–402.Google Scholar
Bain, D.C., Mellor, A., Wilson, M.J. & Duthie, D.M.L. (1994) Chemical and mineralogical weathering rates and processes in an upland granitic till catchment in Scotland. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 73, 11–27.Google Scholar
Barnhisel, R.I. & Bertsch, P.M. (1989) Chlorites and hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite and smectite. Pp. 729–788 in: Minerals in Soil Environments (Dixon, J.B. & Weed, S.B., editors). Soil Science Society of America, SSSA Book Series, no. 1., 2nd Edition, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.Google Scholar
Baroni, C. & Carton, A. (1990) Variazioni oloceniche della Vedretta della Lobbia (gruppo dell’Adamello, Alpi Centrali). Geografia Fisica Dinamica Quaternaria, 13, 105–119.Google Scholar
Bäumler, R. & Zech, W. (1994) Soils of the high mountain region of Eastern Nepal: classification, distribution and soil forming processes. Catena, 22, 85–103.Google Scholar
Bishop, J., Madejová, J., Komadel, P. & Fröschl, H. (2002) The influence of structural Fe, Al and Mg on the infrared OH bands in spectra of dioctahedral smectites. Clay Minerals, 37, 607–616.Google Scholar
Bockheim, J.G., Munroe, J.S., Douglass, D. & Koerner, D. (2000) Soil development along an elevational gradient in the southeastern Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA. Catena, 39, 169–185.Google Scholar
Bosselini, A., Castellarin, A., Dal Piaz, G.V. & Nardin, E. (2002) Carta geologica e dei lineamenti strutturali del Trentino. Servizio Geologico, Provincia Autonoma di Trento.Google Scholar
Carnicelli, S., Mirabella, A., Cecchini, G. & Sanesi, G. (1997) Weathering of chlorite to a low-charge expandable mineral in a Spodosol on the Apennine mountains, Italy. Clays and Clay Minerals, 45, 28–41.Google Scholar
Cooper, A.W. (1960) An example of the role of microclimate in soil genesis. Soil Science, 90, 109–120.Google Scholar
Dahlgren, R.A. & Ugolini, F.C. (1991) Distribution and characterisation of short-range-order minerals in Spodosols from the Washington Cascades. Geoderma, 48, 391–413.Google Scholar
Dahlgren, R.A., Boettinger, J.L., Huntington, G.L. & Amundson, R.G. (1997) Soil development along an elevational transect in the western Sierra Nevada, California. Geoderma, 78, 207–236.Google Scholar
Dambrine, E. (1986) Répartition, morphologie et fonctionnnement des Podzols de haute montagne crystalline sous climat tempéré. Pp. 69–83 in: Podzols et Podzolisation (Righi, D. & Chauvel, A., editors). Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, (INRA) et AFES, Paris.Google Scholar
De Coninck, F. (1980) Major mechanisms in formation of spodic horizons. Geoderma, 24, 101–128.Google Scholar
Egli, M., Mirabella, A. & Fitze, P. (2001a) Clay mineral formation in soils of two different chronosequences in the Swiss Alps. Geoderma, 104, 145–175.Google Scholar
Egli, M., Fitze, P. & Mirabella, A. (2001b) Weathering and evolution of soils formed on granitic, glacial deposits: results from chronosequences of Swiss Alpine environments. Catena, 45, 19–47.Google Scholar
Egli, M., Mirabella, A. & Fitze, P. (2003a) Formation rates of smectites derived from two Holocene chronosequences in the Swiss Alps. Geoderma, 117, 81–98.Google Scholar
Egli, M., Mirabella, A., Sartori, G. & Fitze, P. (2003b) Weathering rates as a function of climate: results from a climosequence of the Val Genova (Trentino, Italian Alps). Geoderma, 111, 99–121.Google Scholar
Egli, M., Mirabella, A. & Sartori, G. (2004) Weathering of soils in Alpine areas as influenced by climate and parent material. Clays and Clay Minerals, 52, 287–303.Google Scholar
FAO (1998) World Reference Base for Soil Resources. World Soil Resources Reports 84, FAO, Rome.Google Scholar
Farmer, V.C. (1974) Layer silicates. Pp. 331–363 in: Infrared Spectra of Minerals (Farmer, V.C., editor). Monograph 4, Mineralogical Society, London.Google Scholar
Farmer, V.C. (1982) Significance of the presence of allophane and imogolite in podzols Bs horizons for podzolization mechanisms: a review. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 28, 571–578.Google Scholar
Gjems, O. (1967) Studies on clay minerals and clay mineral formation in soil profiles in Scandinavia. Meddelelser fra det Norske Skogforsöksvesen, 21, 303–415.Google Scholar
Gjems, O. (1970) Mineralogical composition and pedogenic weathering of the clay fraction in Podzol soil profiles in Zalesine, Yugoslavia. Soil Science, 110, 237–243.Google Scholar
Goodman, B.A., Russell, J.D., Fraser, A.R. & Woodhams, F.W.D. (1976) A Mössbauer and IR spectroscopic study of the structure of nontronite. Clays and Clay Minerals, 24, 53–59.Google Scholar
Gustafsson, J.P., Bhattacharya, P., Bain, D.C., Fraser, A.R. & McHardy, W.J. (1995) Podzolisation mechanisms and the synthesis of imogolite in Northern Scandinavia. Geoderma, 66, 167–184.Google Scholar
Hall, K., Thorn, C.E., Matsuoka, N. & Prick, A. (2002) Weathering in cold regions: some thoughts and perspectives. Progress in Physical Geography, 26, 557–603.Google Scholar
Hunckler, R.V. & Schaetzl, R.J. (1997) Spodosol development as affected by geomorphic aspect, Baraga County, Michigan. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 61, 1105–1115.Google Scholar
Jenny, H. (1980) The Soil Resource. Springer, New York.Google Scholar
Karathanasis, A.D. (1988) Compositional and solubility relationships between aluminum-hydroxy interlayered soil-smectites and vermiculites. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 52, 1500–1508.Google Scholar
Karathanasis, A.D. & Harris, W.G. (1994) Quantitative thermal analysis of soil materials. Pp. 360–411 in: Quantitative Methods in Soil Mineralogy. (Amonette, J.E. & Zelazny, L.W., editors). Soil Science Society of America, SSSA Miscellaneous Publication, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.Google Scholar
Klemmedson, J.O. (1964) Topofunction of soils and vegetation in a landscape. American Society of Agronomy, 5, 176–189, special publication.Google Scholar
Laffan, M.D., Daly, J.S. & Whitton, T. (1989) Soil patterns in weathering, clay translocation and podzolisation on hilly and steep land at Port Underwood, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand: classification and relation to landform and altitude. Catena, 16, 251–268.Google Scholar
Lanson, B. (1997) Decomposition of experimental X-ray diffraction patterns (profile fitting): a convenient way to study clay minerals. Clays and Clay Minerals, 45, 132–146.Google Scholar
Lundström, U.S., van Breemen, N., Bain, D., van Hees, P.A.W., Giesler, R., Gustafsson, J.P., Ilvesniemi, H., Karltun, E., Melkerud, P.-A., Olsson, M., Riise, G., Wahlberg, O., Bergelin, A., Bishop, K., Finlay, R., Jongmans, A.G., Magnusson, T., Mannerkosky, H., Nordgren, A., Nyberg, L., Starr, M. & Tau Strand, L. (2000) Advances in understanding the podzolization process resulting from a multidisciplinary study of three coniferous forest soils in the Nordic Countries. Geoderma, 94, 335–353.Google Scholar
Macyk, T.M., Pawluk, S. & Lindsay, D. (1978) Relief and microclimate as related to soil properties. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 58, 421–438.Google Scholar
Mahaney, W.C. (1978) Late-Quaternary stratigraphy and soils in the Wind River Mountains, western Wyoming. Pp. 223–264 in: Quaternary Soils (Mahaney, W.C., editor). Geo-Abstracts, Norwich, UK.Google Scholar
Malcolm, R.L., Nettleton, W.D. & McCracken, R.J. (1969) Pedogenic formation of montmorillonite from a 2:1-2:2 intergrade clay mineral. Clays and Clay Minerals, 16, 405–414.Google Scholar
McKeague, J.A., Brydon, J.E. & Miles, N.M. (1971) Differentiation of forms of extractable iron and aluminium in soils. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings, 35, 33–38.Google Scholar
Mirabella, A. & Egli, M. (2003) Structural transformations of clay minerals in soils of a climosequence in an Italian Alpine environment. Clays and Clay Minerals, 51, 264–278.Google Scholar
Mirabella, A. & Sartori, G. (1998) The effect of climate on the mineralogical properties of soils from the Val Genova Valley (Trentino, Italy). Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 7, 478–483.Google Scholar
Mirabella, A., Egli, M., Carnicelli, S. & Sartori G (2002) Influence of parent material on clay minerals formation in podzols of Trentino —Italy. Clay Minerals, 37, 699–707.Google Scholar
Moore, D.M. & Reynolds, R.C. Jr. (1997) X-ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals. 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Muhs, D.R., Bettis, E.A., Been, J. & McGeehin, J.P. (2001) Impact of climate and parent material on chemical weathering in loess-derived soils of the Mississippi river valley. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 65, 1761–1777.Google Scholar
Olis, A.C., Malla, P.B. & Douglas, L.A. (1990) The rapid estimation of the layer charges of 2:1 expanding clays from a single alkylammonium ion expansion. Clay Minerals, 25, 39–50.Google Scholar
Parfitt, R.L. & Henmi, T. (1982) Comparison of an oxalate-extraction method and an infrared spectroscopic method for determining allophane in soil clays. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 28, 183–190.Google Scholar
Pedrotti, F., Orsomando, E., Francalancia, C. & Cortini Pedrotti, C. (1974) Carta della vegetazione del Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio, scala 1:50000. Dipartimento di Botanica, Università di Camerino.Google Scholar
Rech, J.A., Reeves, R.W. & Hendricks, D. (2001) The influence of slope aspect on soil weathering processes in the Springerville volcanic field, Arizona. Catena, 43, 49–62.Google Scholar
Reynolds, R.C. (1971) Clay mineral formation in an alpine environment. Clays and Clay Minerals, 19, 361–374.Google Scholar
Righi, D., Huber, K. & Keller, C. (1999) Clay formation and podzol development from postglacial moraines in Switzerland. Clay Minerals, 34, 319–332.Google Scholar
Sartori, G., Mancabelli, A., Corradini, F. & Wolf, U. (2005) Atlante dei suoli del Parco Adamello-Brenta. Suoli e paesaggi. Monografie del Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, II, 239 pp.Google Scholar
Sboarina, C. & Cescatti, A. (2004) Il clima del Trentino —Distribuzione spaziale delle principali variabili climatiche. Centro di Ecologia Alpina, Trento.Google Scholar
Schaetzl, R.J. & Isard, S.A. (1996) Regional-scale relationships between climate and strength of podzolization in the Great Lakes Region, North America. Catena, 28, 47–69.Google Scholar
Schwertmann, U. (1964) Differenzierung der Eisenoxide des Bodens durch Extraktion mit Ammoniumoxalat Lösung. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung, Dungung und Bodenkunde, 105, 195–202.Google Scholar
Senkayi, A.L., Dixon, J.B. & Hossner, L.R. (1981) Transformation of chlorite to smectite through regularly interstratified intermediates. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 45, 650–656.Google Scholar
Servizio Idrografico (1959) Precipitazione medie mensili ed annue per il Trentino 1921-1950. Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, Roma.Google Scholar
Tamura, T. (1958) Identification of clay minerals from acid soils. Journal of Soil Science, 9, 141–147.Google Scholar
van Hees, P.A.W., Lundström, U.S. & Giesler, R. (2000) Low molecular weight organic acids and their Alcomplexes in soil solution —composition, distribution and seasonal variation in three podzolized soils. Geoderma, 94, 173–200.Google Scholar
Van Ranst, E., Stoops, G., Gallez, A. & Vandenberghe, R.E. (1997) Properties, some criteria of classification and genesis of upland forest podzols in Rwanda. Geoderma, 76, 263–283.Google Scholar
Vantelon, D., Pelletier, M., Michot, L.J., Barres, O. & Thomas, F. (2001) Fe, Mg and Al distribution in the octahedral sheet of montmorillonites. An infrared study in the OH-bending region. Clay Minerals, 36, 369–379.Google Scholar
Whittaker, R.H., Buol, S.W., Niering, W.A. & Havens, Y.H. (1968) A soil and vegetation pattern in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona. Soil Science, 105, 440–450.Google Scholar