Proto-imogolite and the process of podzol formation: a critical note

The presence of imogolite or other poorly crystalline aluminosilicates in the lower B horizons of podzols can be explained by neoformation from silica in the percolating soil solution and aluminium species liberated from their organic bond by activity of micro-organisms. There are physicochemical arguments refuting the alternative concept that iron and aluminium are transported down the profile as short range order aluminosilicates such as proto-imogolite which would thus play an important role in podzol formation. There is ample evidence to attribute the mobilization, translocation and precipitation of sesquioxides to complexing organic compounds.