Verwitterung toskanischer Gesteine unter Mitwirkung von Flechten

The role of the lichens in the breakdown of some tuscan rocks In the natural tuscan environment the rocks breakdown by means of the lichens results in the dissolution of primary minerals and not in the formation of neogenesis minerals. Large amounts of Ca-oxalate were found in the weathered sheets of calcareous rocks, while in the ferromagnesian ones the soluble iron oxalate is easily washed away, thus facilitating further weathering. In the lichen sheets the Fe⁺⁺: Fe⁺⁺⁺ ratio is almost constant in contrast with the values found in the rock.     

METAL-COMPLEX FORMATION BY LICHEN COMPOUNDS

The formation of soluble complexes, frequently coloured, when solid lichen compounds were shaken with water suspensions of biotite, granite, and basalt indicated that chemical weathering had occurred. The formation of colourless complexes and the adsorption of the dissolved lichen compound or complex by the silicate phase complicate the interpretation of the spectrophotometric analysis data. Lichen compounds invariably released greater amounts of Ca than of Mg, Fe, and Al from the silicates and, for each lichen compound, the release of Ca was usually greater from biotite than from granite or basalt. Release of cations from the silicate materials resulted largely from metal-complex formation rather than from reactions directly involving hydrogen ions. Citric, salicylic, and phydroxy-benzoic acids and EDTA, used as control organic acids, usually released considerably greater amounts of cations from the silicates than did the lichen compounds, consistent with the higher water solubility of the control organic acids. Similar amounts of Fe, Al, Ca, and Mg were released from the silicates by solutions of the lichen compounds and by solid lichen compounds. Lichen compounds are sufficiently soluble in water to form soluble metal complexes and to effect chemical weathering of minerals and rocks.     

Granitic weathering: a Brazilian study

Chemical and mineral studies were carried out on weathered materials from six profiles developed on granites located in different areas of Brazil. Quartz and K-feldspar are the most abundant minerals overall. Kaolinite is the most common secondary mineral and is principally a feldspar weathering product. Mica breakdown is associated with smectite formation in semi-arid regions. In more humid regions mica weathering products include interlayered mica-vermiculite, vermiculite and kaolinite. Changes in the concentrations of Si, Al and K reflect the weathering behaviour of quartz, kaolinite, K-feldspar respectively, although K mobilities sometimes appear to be governed by processes related to the formation of secondary minerals. Ca and Mg are the first elements to exhibit depletion and their removal rates are very fast relative to K. P is also among the most mobile elements. Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba and Pb concentrations were measured. The first row transition metals are the most depleted. Rb and Sr are retained relative to Na, Mg, and Ca, and Ba accumulates as weathering proceeds. Y, Zr, Nb and Pb concentrations show little variation. The conclusion is that the factors controlling deep leaching are complex and the common notion that weathering rates are higher at lower latitudes should be reassessed.     

Mineralogical Composition and Sources of Airborne Settling Particles on Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee), Israel

The dustfall around Lake Kinneret (LK), northernIsrael was collected monthly for four and a half years, January 1993–May 1997. The inorganic waterinsoluble portions were found to be composed mainlyof four non-clay minerals: quartz, feldspars, calciteand dolomite. The principal clay minerals, about 10%of the IWI, were palygorskite, kaolinite, illite andsmectite. A seasonal non-clay mineral distributionvariation was noticed, being richer in quartz in thewinter and richer in carbonates, especially calcite,in the summer. During dust storm episodes the amountof quartz (and also feldspar) in the dustfallincreased markedly. Near basalt and volcanic tuffquarries, the predominant minerals are of the feldspargroup. The origin of the quartz was found to be longrange transport, whilst the other minerals are mainlyof intermediate and local origin.     

EDAPHOIDS AND PALEOSOLS OF BASALTIC ORIGIN IN THE GALILEE, ISRAEL

Red soil-like layers intercalated amid basaltic flows from the Miocene-Pleistocene in the Galilee, Israel, were examined. Micromorphological features which can be related to (a) translocation of materials, and (b) biological activity, and are therefore of distinct pedological origin, identify two of the layers as paleosols. Absence of these features and preservation of the fabric of the parent basalt serve to identify the third layer as an edaphoid. A fourth layer consists of an edaphoid superimposed on a paleosol. The edaphoids are composed almost entirely of a dioctahedral smectite. In two of the paleosols dioctahedral smectites predominate. In the third kaolinite and haematite are present also in considerable amounts. The presence of quartz in the paleosols is attributed partly to precipitation from Si-rich solutions percolating the upper basalt layer and partly to aeolian contamination. In all the layers the free iron is predominantly in an anhydrous form. Similarity in the clay mineral composition of the Plio-Pleistocene paleosols with that of contemporaneous basaltic soils is taken to indicate similarity in climatic conditions of formation. Differentiation between paleosols and edaphoids cannot be made by the use of a single criterion but must be based on corroborative evidence derived from micromorphological and mineralogical examinations.     

南极Fildes半岛地衣在风化和成土过程中的作用

Lichens play an unparalleledly vital role in weathering and soil-forming processes in Antarctic region,In this study some related chemical components and micromorphological analyses have been carried out on the samples of the weathered rocks and the lichens grown on them from Files Peninsula,Antarctic,The results indicatied that the major chemical components in the bioweathering surface layer of the sampled rocks have been obviously altered and the weathering potential in this layer has greatly decreased by and average range around 4.66 percent in 4 samples,In the weathering surface layer ferruginiztion of some minerals in varying degress was seen by means of microscopic examination through the thin section of the weathered rocks,and its products proved to be dominated by hematitie,limonite,goethite and free iron oxides Meanwhile,the study suggested that the dissolution and absorption of lichens by their secretion accelerated the process of calcitization of minerals in the bio-weathering suface layer,Eventually,the results also show that different species of lichens play different roles in weathering and soil-forming proesses.     

Oxalate reduces calcium availability in the pads of the prickly pear cactus through formation of calcium oxalate crystals

The pads (nopales) of the prickly pear cactus are considered to be a good source of minerals and other nutrients on the basis of compositional analysis. In this study, this analysis is taken a step further by assessing the availability of selected minerals in nopales using an in vitro digestion and dialysis method. The results obtained suggest that although nopales are enriched in a number of minerals, their tissue calcium is not freely available. Microscopic analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and oxalate measurements suggest that this reduction in available calcium is a result of its sequestration in the form of calcium oxalate crystals. The issue of mineral availability in plant foods is important when the dependence of many populations around the world on plant foods as their main source of minerals and other nutrients is considered.     

Genesis of red and dark brown soils on basaltic parent materials near Armidale,N.S.W., Australia

Morphological, physical, chemical and mineralogical data are presented for contiguous euchrozem (nitosols) and chocolate soils (cambisols) developed on basaltic parent materials in the Armidale district of northern New South Wales. The genesis and distribution of the different soils classified at great soil group and series level are related to parent material and topography. The dark brown chocolate soils associated with the modern surface overlie a uniform parent material of partly weathered alkali-olivine basalt. The red euchrozem soils, although having morphological and mineralogical properties associated with intensive weathering and long term soil genesis, have also developed on the modern surface under a moderate leaching regime. They are derived from re-exposed, highly weathered, sesquioxidic, interbasaltic lapilli tuffs and underlying basalt which were probably transformed under a different climate in Pliocene—Pleistocene times. The study showed further that reddish chocolate soils are not necessarily the uppermost member of a sequence of soils developed on partly weathered basalt.     

Location of Trace Elements in Unpolluted Soils by a Combined Method

Abstract

A sequential extraction procedure was combined with physical fractionation and mineralogy to determine the distribution of trace elements (TE) among the different phases of a poorly weathered sample. It was first fractionated into five particle‐size fractions. Two of these were selected for sequential extractions on the basis of their contrasting mineralogical compositions. A five‐step sequential extraction scheme was employed. The studied sample is mostly composed of hornblende, quartz, and feldspars. Early weathering has already occurred, resulting in the formation of smectite and oxides. Sequential extractions show that the studied elements are mostly associated with the residual phases. Hornblende was the main TE bearer of the primary minerals, whereas TEs released through weathering precipitated in both smectite and oxides. Oxides were found to scavenge copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) more efficiently than smectite. Copper and nickel (Ni) were more concentrated in smectite than in hornblende.     

Comparative FT-Raman spectroscopy of Xanthoria lichen-substratum systems from temperate and antarctic habitats

Lichens have a primary role in the biodeterioration of rock substrata and in soil formation. In extreme Antarctic rock-face habitats, their exposed epilithic growth form makes them vulnerable to environmental stress, especially to increased UVB radiation within the late winter ozone “hole”. In this study, FT-Raman spectra of intact epilithic samples of the highly-pigmented lichen species Xanthoria elegans and Xanthoria mawsonii from a continental Antarctic habitat in central Victoria Land and Xanthoria parietina from a maritime temperate location in Scotland have been compared. Vibrational assignments have been made for their pigments, based on parietin and an anthraquinone model. Other significant spectral features are assigned to biodegradative secondary metabolites, cellulose and incorporated substratal rock particles. Differential distribution of parietin pigment bands in the profile of an X. elegans thallus is probably related to the high intensity of UV-radiation reaching its Antarctic cold desert surface environment. The significant differences in Raman spectra between epiphytic X. mawsonii and epilithic X. elegans at the same site possibly indicate different biochemical UV survival strategies. In contrast to spectra from other lichen species studied in our laboratories, the Xanthoria encrustations contain very little calcium oxalate, formed by reaction of oxalic acid with calcareous substrata. The 462 cm⁻¹ ν(SiO) band of quartz is found in the Raman spectra from both upper and lower surfaces of the lichen encrustations, confirms the physical incorporation of the substratum into the thallus.     

我国北亚热带白浆化土壤矿物学特性的研究

本文对北亚热带地区七个白浆化土壤的原生矿物和次生矿物的特性进行了研究。重，轻矿物含量表明土壤继承了母质的特性，粘淀层与漂白层的母质沉积是间断的，前者风化强度大于后者。石英颗粒表现特征显示漂白层物来来源于黄土物质再堆积，粘土矿物以水云母为主，其结晶度较差，氧化铁类型以针铁矿和赤铁矿为主，也有非晶质氧化铁和硅酸盐中的Ｆｅ＾２＋，其形成条件与现代化成土条件一致。     

Growth of Cocoa Planted on Highly Weathered Soil as Affected by Application of Basalt and/or Compost

Oxisols, which are highly weathered, occupy a large area of Malaysia. These soils are infertile because of low pH, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K) levels but high aluminum (Al) content. The infertility can be ameliorated by applying soil amendments. A study was conducted to determine the effects of basalt and/or rice husk compost application on cocoa growth planted on an Oxisol. The results showed that either basalt or rice husk compost and their combinations were effective ameliorants. Basalt application increased soil pH and exchangeable Ca and Mg while decreasing exchangeable Al. Accordingly, soil solution Ca, Mg, and K increased and Al and manganese (Mn) concentrations decreased. Silicate released from basalt was able to lower the pHo (the pH at which the net charge of the variable charge minerals is zero), indicating a negative charge was being generated, which led to increase in the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the Oxisol. The improvement in soil fertility because of application of the amendments had improved cocoa growth. Leaf K and P of the cocoa planted on the basalt-treated soils were within the sufficient range for cocoa growth. Rice husk compost applied at a rate of less than 20 t ha^?1 in this trial was not able to supply sufficient N to the cocoa. Basalt application at an appropriate rate effectively ameliorates acidic soil infertility, but it takes time to realize the positive effects of application as it slowly dissolves under field conditions.     

贡嘎山海螺沟冰川退缩区土壤序列矿物组成变化

阐明土壤中矿物随时间变化的机制是理解矿物风化和土壤发育的基础。利用X射线衍射法对贡嘎山海螺沟冰川退缩区土壤矿物组成随成土作用时间变化进行了定量分析。结果表明,冰川退缩区成土母质的矿物组成同质性较高,以硅酸盐矿物为主(约90%),包括:斜长石(28.5%)、石英(24.5%)、黑云母、钾长石、普通辉石、角闪石、绿泥石、蛭石;并有少量碳酸盐矿物,如方解石(8%)、白云石(2.3%);以及磷酸盐矿物磷灰石(2.1%)。退缩区土壤的矿物组成总体呈新发育土壤特征,随着成土年龄的增加,方解石逐渐被风化成为草酸钙石,角闪石、黑云母、磷灰石和绿泥石含量逐渐降低,长英质矿物的相对含量有所增加。成土作用中矿物组成的变化受植被原生演替和土壤p H的影响,快速发育的植被导致土壤p H迅速降低,风化程度增强。     

Short‐time clay‐mineral evolution in a soil chronosequence in Oléron Island (France)

Major weathering sequences in soils are well established; however, knowledge on rates of mineral transformations remains unknown, because it is often difficult to date precisely soil processes. This work was carried out on soils developed on recent (< 188 y) sand dunes on the W coast of Oléron Island (France). The coast has been protected against marine and wind erosion by constructing five consecutives barriers close to the coastline since 1820 (1820, 1864, 1876, 1889, 1948) defining the maximum age of the soil parent material, as before the areas between the barriers were under water. Soils on the older dunes have low clay content (> 94% of sand) and exhibit a bleached E horizon that overlies a yellowish brown B horizon. The process responsible for their formation is podzolization promoted by the high permeability of the material and complexing organic matter produced by coniferous vegetation. Initial mineralogy of C horizons is homogenous and constituted of chlorite, illite, illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals, and kaolinite, quartz, calcite (≈ 8% related to shell fragments), and feldspars. The initial clay‐mineral assemblage of the E horizons is dominated by illite (well‐crystallized WCI and poorly crystallized PCI) and chlorite. With progressive podzolization, poorly crystallized illite is first transformed to illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals and in a further step into smectite. In addition, transformation of well‐crystallized illite leads to formation of ordered illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals in the E horizons, which is not commonly described in soils. In the B horizons, illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals are present with traces of smectite, as well as Al and Fe oxi‐hydroxides as revealed by DCB and oxalate chemical extractions. This chronosequence illustrates that over short distances and short time (< 188 y) intense mineral weathering and soil development occur. Major clay‐mineral changes occur between 132 and 188 y in agreement with development of the pine forest producing acidic litter.     

Environmental stress response limits microbial necromass contributions to soil organic carbon

The majority of dead organic material enters the soil carbon pool following initial incorporation into microbial biomass. The decomposition of microbial necromass carbon (C) is, therefore, an important process governing the balance between terrestrial and atmospheric C pools. We tested how abiotic stress (drought), biotic interactions (invertebrate grazing) and physical disturbance influence the biochemistry (C:N ratio and calcium oxalate production) of living fungal cells, and the subsequent stabilization of fungal-derived C after senescence. We traced the fate of ¹³C-labeled necromass from ‘stressed’ and ‘unstressed’ fungi into living soil microbes, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total soil carbon and respired CO₂. All stressors stimulated the production of calcium oxalate crystals and enhanced the C:N ratios of living fungal mycelia, leading to the formation of ‘recalcitrant’ necromass. Although we were unable to detect consistent effects of stress on the mineralization rates of fungal necromass, a greater proportion of the non-stressed (labile) fungal necromass C was stabilised in soil. Our finding is consistent with the emerging understanding that recalcitrant material is entirely decomposed within soil, but incorporated less efficiently into living microbial biomass and, ultimately, into stable SOC.     

Bio—Mobilization of Potassium from Clay Minerals：II.By ectmycorrhizal Fungi

Ectomycorrhizal ungi,including Cenococcum geophilum SIV( Cg SIV),and Pisolithus tinctorius 2144(Pt 2144),441(Pt 441) and XC1(Pt XC1),were cultured in Pachlewski liquid medium with H2KPO4,KCl-saturated vermiculite and mica as K sources,respectively,to investigate the mechanism of K absorption and mobilization by the fungi,FUngal growth rate,K absoprtion and mobilization varied significantly among the fungal species,Faster growth and greater K accumulation in Pt XC1 than Pt 2144,Pt 441 and Cg siv were observed.Ectomycorrhizal fungi depressed HCl-soluble K in minerals after successive extractions by water and NH4OAc.Ratio of the total amount of K,including water-,NH4OAc-and HCl-soluble K,lost from substrates to the K accumulated in fungal colonies was less than 60%.These reveal that the ectomycorrhizal fungi could utilize K in Interlayer and structural pools,which are usually unavailable for plants in short period.Large differences in the depletion of K in interlayer and structural pools by fungi were observed at fungal harvest.Taking into account the nutrient absorption by ectomycorrhizal fungi in symbionts and the direct contact between hyphae and soils,the fungi species colonized on the root surfaces seemed to be related to the effectiveness of mycorrhizas to utilize K in soils.Ectomycorrhizal fungi differed in the efflux of protons and oxalate.Pt XC1 was observed to have greatest ability to effuse protons and oxalate among the fungi adopted in the experiment.Furthermore,the higther the concentrations of protons and oxalate in the liquid culture solutions,the larger the depletion of K in interlayer and structural pools in minerals by fungi,Protons could replace interlayer K and chelation of oxalate with Fe and Al in crystal lattice could cause weathering of clay minerals.So,protons and oxalate produced by ectomycorrhizal fungi might play an important role in K mobilization in these two pools.     

Potassium release on drying of soil samples from a variety of weathering regimes and c clay mineralogy in China

Thirty two soil samples from China were analyzed for exchangeable K before and after drying. Most soil samples were higher in exchangeable K after air-drying and ovendrying (60°C) than when wet. Soil clay minerals, especially clay-size mica, affected K released in air-dry and oven-dry samples. According to composition of clay minerals of air-dried samples, five classes were recognized. Soil samples with high mica and montmorillonite have the highest exchangeable K. Samples that contained higher kaolinite than mica had lower exchangeable K. Samples with higher kaolinite than quartz and mica had still lower exchangeable K. Samples of sandy soils contained very low exchangeable K. When quartz was the main mineral, the samples that had kaolinite and gibbsite as the main clay minerals had very low exchangeable K. The degree of weathering (weathering mean) bore an inverse relationship to the amount of K released on drying in air or at 60°C. Udults and Udalfs (Red Earths) of southeastern China, because of their high K release on being dried, are inferred to have received fine mica from the Western Desert dust rainout, reported to Liu et al. (1981).     

Indicators of biodiversity, what do they indicate? - Lessons for conservation of cryptogams in oak-rich forest

In the Nordic countries, sets of Indicator (Signal) species, predominantly cryptogams, have been used as one measure to find forest stands which may harbour Red List species. Such data could potentially also be used to prioritise among stands for protection as nature reserves. We studied if the number of Signal species indicates the number of Red List species in oak-rich mixed forest in south Sweden. We also explored if species richness of the investigated groups is correlated with the number of Red List or Signal species. In 25 stands, we surveyed epiphytic and epixylic bryophytes and lichens, ground-floor bryophytes, and wood-living fungi. We studied correlations for two datasets; (1) all forest species and (2) deciduous forest specialists. When relating the number of Signal species to the number of Red List species for each taxon and in total, a significant correlation was found for temperate deciduous forest lichens. The number of Signal species was further significantly correlated to total species richness for lichens (all forest species) and for wood-living fungi (both datasets). The number of Red List lichens was correlated to total lichen richness (deciduous forest species). Signal species seem not to be unequivocal in prioritising potential reserves among valuable oak-rich woodlands and surveys by Red List species experts may be needed. Signal species may be more useful for finding relatively valuable sites in a matrix of production forest. Moreover, Signal species seem to be useful surrogates for total cryptogam species richness.     

Clay minerals in a soil chronosequence derived from basalt on Hainan Island, China and its implication for pedogenesis

A soil chronosequence consisting of six profiles formed on quartz tholeiite basalt ranging in age from 10,000 years to 1. 8 Million years (My) was studied here. Soil clays were identified using XRD diffractogram decomposition methods for samples obtained from the A and C horizons of profiles. The results showed that kaolinite minerals dominated in all the clay fractions. Gibbsite was prominent in the C horizons in the soils from older rocks. Clays in the A horizon of relatively young soils showed an initial stage of illite formation, followed by smectite mixed layer minerals (illite-smectites and then vermiculite-illite) and finally by vermiculite. The initial presence of illite is interesting as there is no magmatic micaceous or phyllosilicate phase in these basalts and the formation of illite we attribute to a secondary process, probably created by alkali transport by plant materials. The change in 2:1 clay mineralogy reflects the overall change in Si/Al ratios in the soils over longer periods of weathering. In all cases gibbsite is more abundant in the C horizons than the A horizons. The difference in gibbsite content between the A and C horizons we attribute to plant transport of siliceous phytolite material to the surface. Continued high rainfall over long periods of time removed the alkali faster than the plants could bring it to the surface, which led to continuous lowering of 2:1 minerals from younger to older in the soil chronosequence. Nevertheless a 2:1, silica-rich mineral persists in the clay assemblages although in very minor amounts.     

Changes in the Chemical and Mineralogical Properties of Mt. Talang Volcanic Ash in West Sumatra during the Initial Weathering Phase

Eruptions from Talang volcano on 12 April 2005 distributed volcanic ash over portions of the Solok District of West Sumatra, Indonesia. Unleached and leached pristine volcanic ash were collected immediately after the eruption, and the third sample was collected after 2 years. The mineralogy and chemical properties of pristine volcanic ash and volcanic ash deposits that were weathered for 2 years from the 2005 eruption of Mt. Talang, Sumatra, were studied to characterize the volcanic ash, identify the primary minerals present, and determine its chemical properties. Results showed that the volcanic ash contained 30% noncrystalline minerals (or volcanic glass); the remaining ash is composed of crystalline minerals such as labradorite, hypersthene, augite, hornblende, olivine, opaque ferromagnetic minerals, and rock fragments. Notable differences in pH values were observed as the pH tended to become more acidic from the unleached, leached, and weathered volcanic ash, but the ash did not give much response to the sodium fluoride (NaF) test. Total sulfur gradually decreased from 3.28% in unleached ash to 1.93% after 2 years. Available phosphorus (P) in the unleached volcanic ash was 68 mg kg^?1, and this value was decreased by 15 % after 2 years of being exposed to the atmosphere, while phosphate retention ranged between 52.8% and 66.8%. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was low with the value of 10 cmol_c kg^?1 although base saturation was high, exceeding 75%. The low acid oxalate–extractable silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) values of 0.07%, 0.25% and 1.17%, respectively, show the scarcity of secondary amorphous compounds in the ash. Total elemental analysis indicated that no differences were found in total silica oxide (SiO₂) content of all samples, with a value about 56%, and this volcanic ash can be classified as basaltic andesite. We observed that removal of chemical elements by leaching was large for calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), and sodium oxide (Na₂O) as the values decreased in time. Solid-state ²⁹Si and ²⁷Al magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies indicated that Al occurred in both tetrahedral and octahedral forms. Silicon was not present in the tetrahedral layer. An intense peak at ?92 ppm was indicative of the presence of aluminosilicates.