SOME PODZOL SOILS OF ALBERTA

Abstract

Recent exploratory surveys in the northern sections of Alberta revealed many soils morphologically similar to podzols. A laboratory study was carried out to obtain a better understanding of the genesis and morphology of these soils.Chemical analyses showed the percentage base saturation and pH to be higher than for typical podzols.Physical analyses showed slight increases in clay content in the B horizons and decreases in the A horizons when compared to the parent material.From mineralogical studies of the profiles, the following weathering sequences were established: feldspars>quartz; chlorite>biotite>muscovite; [Formula: see text]. X-ray diffraction data showed illite, montmorillonite-illite mixed layering, montmorillonite, and kaolinite as being the principal clay minerals present in the A and C horizons. The clay mineral components of the B horizons were primarily chlorite-like with lesser amounts of kaolinite. Analyses indicated that the chlorite-like mineral lacked properties attributed to well crystallized chlorites and provided strong evidence in favour of authigenic origin.Data obtained in this study showed the genesis of these soils to be somewhat different from that reported for podzols elsewhere although the process of formation evidently was primarily chemical.