Clay Mineralogy and Weathering of a Red-Yellow Podzolic Soil from Quartz Mica Schist in the Alabama Piedmont

Abstract

AbstractMineralogical and chemical properties of Madison soil derived from quartz mica schist reflected the degree of weathering. The Madison soil had sandy surface horizons and clayey B horizons. The clay in surface horizons contained more mica than clay in the subsoils; a maximum of about 40 per cent mica in the coarse clay of surface horizons. Intergradient chlorite-vermiculite was present in appreciable quantities in clays of surface horizons. The presence in the whole soil of B2 horizons of about 15 per cent gibbsite and 12 per cent free iron oxides indicated a high degree of weathering. Kaolinite and gibbsite increased with depth and were the major clay minerals in all clay fractions in the lower portion of the profiles. Kaolinite and gibbsite also were important accessory minerals of the coarse and medium silt fractions and increased in percentage with depth. The B3 horizons had much of the morphology of the schist. Results indicated a high weathering intensity in the subsoil and leaching of weathering products.