Wednesday, 9 November 2005
7

Iron and Manganese Oxide Characterization of Concretions from Mafic-Derived Piedmont Soils in the Georgia Piedmont.

Elizabeth Hufstetler and L.T. West. University of Georgia, 2089 Calhoun Falls Hwy, Elberton, GA 30635

The importance of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) minerals in soils is varied: they are essential for plant growth and function, can adsorb heavy metal ions, form redoximorphic features such as nodules or concretions, and are useful in understanding soil genesis. The objective of this study was to attempt to identify iron and manganese minerals in concretions found in Georgia Piedmont soils. Three sites with loamy alluvium overlying clayey residuum were sampled. Analysis was concentrated on horizons immediately overlying the residual parent material that contained up to 50% Fe-Mn concretions. Whole soil samples, including concretions, were crushed and extracted with Na-citrate-dithionite and acid-ammonium oxalate in order to separate crystalline (Fed and Mnd) and amorphous (Feo and Mno) components. Na-citrate-dithionite Fe and Mn ranged from 5.9 to 16.3 and 1.7 to 3.2%, respectively. Acid-ammonium oxalate extractable Fe and Mn ranged from 1.4 to 2.2 and 1.2 to 2.0%, respectively. Differential XRD (DXRD) of whole soil samples was used to identify Fe and Mn minerals in concretions. Fe and Mn peaks were broad and suggested the presence of the Fe minerals goethite, hematite, and ferrihydrite minerals and the Mn minerals manganite and romanèchite.

Handout (.pdf format, 1085.0 kb)

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