Soils, mineral formation

Soil minerals play a stabilizing role in organic matter. The Al and Fe that complex and stabilize organic matter against microbial decomposition are released from soil minerals during soil formation. The supply rates apparently control the content of soil organic matter to a great extent. This is demonstrated by the relationship between pyrophosphate-extractable C and pyrophosphate-extractable Al plus Fe (Wada 1995). 

Krishnamurti GSR, Wang MK, Huang PM (2004) Effects of pyrollogol on Al13 tridecamer formation and humification. Clays Clay Miner 52 734-741 Kumada K, Kato H (1970) Browning of pyrogallol as catalyzed by clay minerals. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 16 195-200... 

An analysis of the thermodynamic stability models of various nickel minerals and solution species indicates that nickel ferrite is the solid species that will most likely precipitate in soils (Sadiq and Enfield 1984a). Experiments on 21 mineral soils supported its formation in soil suspensions following nickel adsorption (Sadiq and Enfield 1984b). The formation of nickel aluminate, phosphate, or silicate was not significant. Ni and Ni(OHX are major components of the soil solution in alkaline soils. In acid soils, the predominant solution species will probably be NE, NiS04°, and NiHP04° (Sadiq and Enfield 1984a). 

Brookhaven National Laboratory s (BNL s) biochemical recovery of radionuclides and heavy metals is a patented biochemical recovery process for the removal of metals and radionuclides from contaminated minerals, soil, and waste sites. In this process, citric acid, a naturally occurring organic complexing agent, is used to extract metals and radionuclides from solid wastes by the formation of water-soluble, metal-citrate complexes. The complex-rich extract is then subjected to microbiological biodegradation that removes most of the extracted heavy metals. 

Environmental soil-water scientists are interested in acquiring the knowledge necessary for predicting soil-water system processes. All such processes are products of biophysical-chemical reactions. This chapter covers mineral solubility, a process related to ion availability to soil microbes and higher plants, ion release to ground or surface water, mineral precipitation, soil mineral weathering, and/or soil formation. The chapter deals specifically with chemical equilibria and its purpose is to provide students with the tools necessary for quantifying such reactions. 

Nordstrom, D. K. 1982a. Aqueous pyrite oxidation and the consequent formation of secondary iron minerals. In L. R. Hossner, J. A. Kittrick, and D. F. Fanning, Eds. Acid Sulfate Weathering Pedogeochemistry and Relationship to Manipulation of Soil Minerals. Soil Science Society of America Press, Madison, WI, pp. 46-53. 

There were times on our planet when the barren dryness of uninhabited continents sharply contrasted with the densely populated sea. The continental lithosphere was then essentially represented by rock surfaces of different types. Sedimentary rocks were rare, if not absent. As rock materials became exposed to the subaerial environment at the Earth s surface, they encountered a whole range of environmental challenges such as temperature fluctuations, water, unbuffered cosmic and solar irradiation and atmospheric gases and solids instead of dissolved species. These influences resulted in rocks undergoing alterations in material properties leading to erosion and breakdown into ever-smaller particles and constituent minerals, formation of sandy sediments, and mineral soils (Ehrlich, 1996). Primordial terrestrial environments can therefore be visualized as a freshly exposed and only slightly physically pre-weathered rock surface. 

Ponomareva, V. V., and V. V. Dokuchayev. 1984. Water-mineral nutrition of plants as a major factor in phytogenesis and soil formation. Pochvovedeniye. 1984(4) 29-38. 

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