Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T07:08:24.508Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Weathering sequences of clay minerals in soils along a serpentinitic toposequence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Z. Y. Hseu*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Nei-Pu, Pingtung 912-01, Taiwan
H. Tsai
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua 50018, Taiwan
H. C. Hsi
Affiliation:
Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan
Y. C. Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Nei-Pu, Pingtung 912-01, Taiwan
*
*E-mail address of corresponding author: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

There has been limited research on clay mineral transformation in serpentinitic soils under humid tropical conditions. In this study, four soil pedons were selected along a toposequence from the summit (Entisol), shoulder (Vertisol), backslope (Alfisol) to footslope (Ultisol) positions to explore the contributions and the significance of landscape and weathering status of serpentinitic rock with regard to clay mineral transformations in eastern Taiwan. Experimental results indicated that the large amount of dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate-extractable Fe (Fed) and clay in the subsurface horizon were mainly caused by the strong leaching potential from intensive rainfall and weathering of the fine-grained parent rocks. The clay mineralogy reflected the clear weathering trend of the soils along the toposequence: (1) the soils on the summit and shoulder contained smectite and serpentine, which are predominant in the young soils derived from serpentinitic rocks; and (2) vermiculite gradually increased in the relatively old soils on backslope and footslope. The mineralogical transformations observed along the toposequence indicated that chlorite and serpentine, initially present in the Entisol on the summit, weather into smectite and interstratified chlorite-vermiculite in the intermediate soil on the shoulder under strong leaching and oxidizing conditions. Furthermore, vermiculite formed as the major weathering product of chlorite and smectite in the soil developed on the backslope. In addition to vermiculite, kaolinite and quartz formed in the soils on the footslope with the greatest concentration of Fed along the toposequence.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 2007, The Clay Minerals Society

References

Alexander, E.B., (1988) Morphology, fertility and classification of productive soils on serpentinised peridotite in California, U.S.A Geoderma 41 337351 10.1016/0016-7061(88)90069-9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alexander, E.B. Adamson, C. Graham, R.C. and Zinke, P.J., (1989) Soils and conifer forest productivity on serpentinized peridotite of the trinity ophiolite, California Soil Science 148 412423 10.1097/00010694-198912000-00003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aspandiar, M.F. and Eggleton, R.A., (2002) Weathering of chlorite: I. Reactions and products in microsystems controlled by the primary mineral Clays and Clay Minerals 50 685698 10.1346/000986002762090227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aspandiar, M.F. and Eggleton, R.A., (2002) Weathering of chlorite: II. Reactions and products in microsystems controlled by solution avenues Clays and Clay Minerals 50 699709 10.1346/000986002762090100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Becquer, T. Rotte-Capet, S. Ghanbaja, J. Mustin, C. and Herbillon, A.J., (2006) Sources of trace metals in Ferralsols in New Caledonia European Journal of Soil Science 57 200213 10.1111/j.1365-2389.2005.00730.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonifacio, E. Zanini, E. Boero, V. and Franchini-Angela, M., (1997) Pedogenesis in a soil catena on serpentinite in northwestern Italy Geoderma 75 3351 10.1016/S0016-7061(96)00076-6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borchardt, G., Dixon, J.B. and Weed, S.B., (1989) Smectites Minerals in Soil Environments 2nd Madison, Wisconsin Soil Science Society of America 675727.Google Scholar
Bullock, P. Fedoroff, N. Jongerius, A. Stoops, G. and Tursina, T., (1985) Handbook for Thin Section Description Albrighton, England Waine Research Publishers 152 pp.Google Scholar
Bulmer, C.E. and Lavkulich, L.M., (1994) Pedogenic and geochemical processes of ultramafic soils along a climatic gradient in southwestern British Columbia Canadian Journal of Soil Science 74 165177 10.4141/cjss94-024.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burt, R. Fillmore, M. Wilson, M.A. Gross, E.R. Langridge, R.W. and Lammers, D.A., (2001) Soil properties of selected pedons on ultramafic rocks in Klamath Mountains, Oregon Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 32 21452175 10.1081/CSS-120000275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caillaud, J. Proust, D. Righi, D. and Martin, F., (2004) Fe-rich clays in a weathering profile developed from serpentinite Clays and Clay Minerals 52 779791 10.1346/CCMN.2004.05206013.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caillaud, J. Proust, D. and Righi, D., (2006) Weathering sequences of rock-forming minerals in a serpentinite: influence of microsystems on clay mineralogy Clays and Clay Minerals 54 87100 10.1346/CCMN.2006.0540111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheshire, M. and Güven, N., (2005) Conversion of chrysotile to a magnesian smectite Clays and Clay Minerals 53 155161 10.1346/CCMN.2005.0530205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dirven, J.M.C. van Schuylenborch, J. and van Breemen, N., (1976) Weathering of serpentinite in Matanzas Province, Cuba: Mass transfer calculations and irreversible reaction pathways Soil Science Society of America Journal 40 901907 10.2136/sssaj1976.03615995004000060029x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dixon, J.B., Dixon, J.B. and Weed, S.B., (1989) Kaolin and serpentine group minerals Minerals in Soil Environments Madision, Wisconsin Soil Science Society of America 467526.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garnier, J. Quantin, C. Martins, E.s. and Becquer, T., (2006) Solid speciation and availability of chromium in ultramafic soils from Niquelândia, Brazil Journal of Geochemical Exploration 88 206209 10.1016/j.gexplo.2005.08.040.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gee, G.W. Bauder, J.W., Page, A.L. Miller, R.H. and Keeney, D.R., (1986) Particle-size analysis Methods of Soil Analysis 2nd Madison, Wisconsin American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America 383411 Part 1.Google Scholar
Golighty, J.P., (1981) Nickeliferous laterite deposits Economic Geology 75 710735.Google Scholar
Graham, R.C. Diallo, M.M. and Lund, L.J., (1990) Soils and mineral weathering on phyllite colluviun and serpentinite in northwestern California Soil Science Society of America Journal 54 16821690 10.2136/sssaj1990.03615995005400060030x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunal, H. and Ransom, M.D., (2006) Genesis and micromorphology of loess-derived soils from central Kansas Catena 65 222236 10.1016/j.catena.2005.11.018.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamblin, W.K., (1992) Earth’s Dynamic Systems 6 New York Macmillan Publishers 647 pp.Google Scholar
Heystek, H., (1956) Vermiculite as a member in mixed-layer minerals Clays and Clay Minerals 4 429434 10.1346/CCMN.1955.0040148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ho, C.S., (1988) An Introduction to the Gof Taiwan: Explanatory Text of the Geologic Map of Taiwan 2nd Taipei, Taiwan Centenary Geological Survey 192 pp.Google Scholar
Hseu, Z.Y., (2006) Concentration and distribution of chromium and nickel fractions along a serpentinitic toposequence Soil Science 171 341353 10.1097/01.ss.0000209354.68783.f3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Istok, J.D. and Harward, M.E., (1982) Influence of soil moisture on smectite formation in soils derived from serpentinite Soil Science Society of America Journal 46 11061108 10.2136/sssaj1982.03615995004600050046x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johns, W.D. Grim, R.E. and Bradley, W.F., (1954) Quantitative estimations of clay minerals by diffraction methods Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 24 242251.Google Scholar
Kahle, M. Kleber, M. and Jahn, R., (2002) Review of XRD-based quantitative analyses of clay minerals in soils: the suitability of mineral intensity factors Geoderma 109 191205 10.1016/S0016-7061(02)00175-1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Langley-Turnbaugh, S.J. and Bockheim, J.G., (1997) Time-dependent changes in pedogenic processes on marine terraces in coastal Oregon Soil Science Society of America Journal 61 14281440 10.2136/sssaj1997.03615995006100050022x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, B.D. Sears, S.K. Graham, R.C. Amrhein, C. and Vali, H., (2003) Secondary mineral genesis from chlorite and serpentine in an ultramafic soil toposequence Soil Science Society of America Journal 67 13091317 10.2136/sssaj2003.1309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, B.D. Graham, R.C. Laurent, T.E. and Amrhein, C., (2004) Pedogenesis in a wetland meadow and surrounding serpentinitic landslide terrain, northern California, USA Geoderma 118 303320 10.1016/S0016-7061(03)00214-3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Massoura, S.T. Echevarria, G. Becquer, T. Ghanbaja, J. Leclerc-Cessac, E. and Morel, J., (2006) Control of nickel availability by nickel bearing minerals in natural and anthropogenic soils Geoderma 136 2837 10.1016/j.geoderma.2006.01.008.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McLean, E.O., Page, A.L. Miller, R.H. and Keeney, D.R., (1982) Soil pH and lime requirement Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2, Chemical and Microbiological Properties 2nd Madison, Wisconsin American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America 199224.Google Scholar
Mehra, O.P. and Jackson, M.J., (1960) Iron oxides removed from soils and clays by a dithionite-citrate system buffered with sodium bicarbonate Clays and Clay Minerals 7 317327 10.1346/CCMN.1958.0070122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nelson, D.W. Sommers, L.E., Page, A.L. Miller, R.H. and Keeney, D.R., (1982) Total carbon, OC and organic matter Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2, Chemical and Microbiological Properties 2nd Madison, Wisconsin American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America 539557.Google Scholar
Nesse, W.D., (2000) Sheet silicates Introduction to Mineralogy New York Oxford University Press 235260.Google Scholar
Rabenhorst, M.C. Foss, J.E. and Fanning, D.S., (1982) Genesis of Maryland soils formed from serpentinite Soil Science Society of America Journal 46 607616 10.2136/sssaj1982.03615995004600030032x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rhoades, J.D., Page, A.L. Miller, R.H. and Keeney, D.R., (1982) Cation exchange capacity Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2, Chemical and Microbiological Properties 2nd Madison, Wisconsin American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America 149157.Google Scholar
Sawhney, B.L., Dixon, J.B. and Weed, S.B., (1989) Interstratification in layer silicates Minerals in Soil Environments 2nd Madision, Wisconsin Soil Science Society of America 789828.Google Scholar
Schreier, H. Omueti, J.A. and Lavkulich, L.M., (1987) Weathering processes of asbestos-rich serpentinitic sediments Soil Science Society of America Journal 51 993999 10.2136/sssaj1987.03615995005100040032x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simonson, R.W., (1995) Airborne dust and its significance to soils Geoderma 65 143 10.1016/0016-7061(94)00031-5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Soil Survey Staff, Keys to Soil Taxonomy (2006) 10 Washington, D.C. Natural Resources Conversation Services, United States Department of Agriculture 332 pp.Google Scholar
Weaver, C.E., (1956) The distribution and identification of mixed-layer clays in sedimentary rocks American Mineralogists 41 202221.Google Scholar
Whittaker, R.H., (1954) The ecology of serpentine soils. IV. The vegetation response to serpentine soils Ecology 35 275288 10.2307/1931126.Google Scholar
Wildman, W.E. Jackson, M.L. and Whittig, L.D., (1968) Iron-rich montmorillonite formation in soils derived from serpentinite Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 32 787794 10.2136/sssaj1968.03615995003200060025x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, M.J. and Berrow, M.L., (1978) The mineralogy and heavy metal content of some serpentinite soils in northeast Scotland Chemie der Erde 37 181205.Google Scholar