MINERALOGICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME GREY WOODED SOILS DEVELOPED FROM GLACIAL TILL

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Abstract
Grey Wooded profiles representing five soil series developed on glacial till in Alberta were studied. The clay mineral fraction in these soils was found to contain montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite and quartz. Authigenic chlorite and "mixed layer" structures were present in the soil sola. Examination of the fine sand fraction revealed the presence of quartz, potash-feldspars and soda-calcic feldspars in the light (sp. gr. < 2.70) mineral fraction with biotite, muscovite, chlorite and highly weathered amphiboles and pyroxenes comprising the intermediate (sp. gr. 2.70–2.96) mineral fraction. The heavy (sp. gr. > 2.96) mineral fraction contained primarily iron oxides, amphiboles, garnets and pyroxenes with a wide variety of other minerals in relatively low quantities.The mineralogical data presented suggest variations in weathering in the sola of the soils studied, despite their similar morphological features. Active and exchange acidity showed little relationship to the degree of mineral weathering. Weathering appeared to be more severe in horizons where acid conditions result from the presence of exchangeable hydrogen rather than where similar acid conditions result from exchangeable aluminium. The mineralogical study was found to be exceedingly valuable in distinguishing between morphologically similar materials of different lithology.

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