Andosols developed from non-volcanic materials in Galicia, NW Spain

A set of well-drained soils in Galicia, formed from gabbros, amphibolites and schists, with udic moisture and mesic temperature regimes, are studied. All but one of the surface horizons show an'exchange complex dominated by amorphous material'(ECDAM); consequently, most soils are classified as Andosols (FAO) or as different subgroups of Dystrandepts (Soil Taxonomy). The soils on gabbros and amphibolites frequently have'andic properties'so, following the ICOMAND proposals, five of the 12 soils studied may be characterized as Andisols. Many of the five soils have properties comparable to those of soils from volcanic areas, especially to those called'non-allophanic Andosols', which have an abundance of active-Al, mainly in the form of Al-humus complexes.