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SOLID EARTH
3.1 Mineral components of soil
3.2 Organic components of soil
3.3 Soil pH and redox potential
3.4 Chemical reaction in soil
Rocks
A rock is a solid aggregate of
one or more minerals that
have been cohesively
brought together by a rock-
forming process.
DEFINITION
Sand
Sand is a naturally
Sand from Coral
occurring granular material Pink Sand Dunes
composed of finely divided State Park, Utah.
rock and mineral particles.
It is defined by size, being
finer than gravel and coarser
than silt.
Sand from
The composition of sand Pismo Beach,
varies, depending on the local California.
F el d s pa r : R o c k- f o r m in g
t e c t os i li ca t e m in e r a ls t h a t
m a k e up a s m u c h a s 6 0 % o f
t h e Ea r t h 's c r us t .
Quartz
CLAY
Clay is a fine-grained natural rock
or soil material that combines one
or more clay minerals with traces
of metal oxides and organic matter.
SILT
Silt
• Silt is not visible to the naked eye and increases the
water holding capacity of soil.
• Texture : Buttery
Relative size comparison between sand, silt,
and clay of the fine earth fraction.
SOIL CHART
MINERAL COMPONENTS OF SOIL
Soil minerals play a vital role in soil fertility
since mineral surfaces serve as potential sites for
nutrient storage
• Soil solids
Includes mineral & organic substances
Minerals – sand & clay dominate the concentration
Organic materials – humus present in a lesser quantity
Arrangement in horizontal layers – soil horizons
A Horizon – upper few inches of soil, usually enriched in organic
matter, most favorable environment for plant growth
-Eluvial horizon – organic matter, minerals, etc. can be washed
out
and down through the soil profile
B Horizon – below the A, lower in organic matter, higher in soluble
materials (salts, clays) because of migration from the A
-Iluvial horizon – material washed in to the soil profile
COMPONENTS OF SOIL
SUMMARY
• Natural inorganic compounds-definite physical ,chemical, and crystalline properties.
• Can be classified into –Primary (Chemically unaltered) minerals: sand, coarse silt
-Secondary(Chemically altered) minerals : clay , fine silt
- Silicates: dominate most soils
- Non-silicates :composed mainly oxides , sulfates ,carbonate
- Other major soil mineral groups include: Sulfides, oxides &
hydroxide, halides, sulfates, carbonates & phosphate
• Common methods used for soil mineral characterization include
–x-ray diffraction
-thermal
-optical
-elemental analyses
• Most primary mineral undergo structural and chemical alteration (weathering)
driven by physical, chemical and biological gradients.
• These processes cause redistribution of primary and secondary soil minerals
resulting in soil profile which is consistent with the surrounding climatic and
topographic setting.
• Soil provide:
Physical support for plants
Contribute to soil structural formation
Sources of many plants nutrients
Act as sorbents for several environmental pollutants
• Crystalline minerals-composed of atoms arranged in 3 dimensional periodic
pattern
• Non-crystalline minerals-lacking this structural periodicity
Crystalline mineral-Calcite
• Most minerals structures
bonded with ionic and
covalent bonds to form
coordinated polyhedrons
with a unique
composition and inter-
atomic distance
characteristics.
• The nature of counter
ions neutralizing the
surface charge also has
important ramifications
on
dispersion/flocculation
phenomena impacting –
soil erosion, land
stability and
groundwater quality.
CLASSIFICATIONS AND
DISTRIBUTIONS OF MINERALS
• Minerals divided into 8 classes depending on-Chemical Compositions
-Specifically their dominant
anion or anionic group
• Classes of minerals include:
Native elements
Sulfides These classes are
Oxides and Hydroxides subdivided further
Carbonates, Nitrates and Borates according to
• Chemical
Sulfates ,Chromates and
• Structural
Molybdates
similariities
Phosphates, Arsenates, Vanadates
Silicates
• Climate changes have a paramount effect in these processes and in the overall
distribution of minerals in:
Soils of different regions
Different soil horizons
Different soil fractions
SOILS OF DIFFERENT REGIONS
3.2 ORGANIC COMPONENTS OF
SOIL
SOM
• Up to 15% of organic
matter is
fresh residue (usually <10)
• Comprised mainly of
litter
fall
• Many of the different
types of plant litter can be
recognized.
ORGANIC COMPONENTS OF SOIL
Leaf Humus
Newly-formed humus=
a) combination of resistant
materials from the original
plant tissue,
b) compounds synthesized as
part of the microorganisms'
tissue which remain as the
organisms die.
humus is mostly resistant to
further microbial attack- N
and P are protected from
ready solubility
FUNCTION OF HUMUS
http://www.traylorchemical.com/images/faqs/phchart.jpg
SOIL CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC)
Adsorption
Example:
6 mEq/100g bases
10 mEq/100g sites
= 60 % base saturation
CEC
• strength of adsorption
• law of mass
CEC
H+ and Al3+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ > NH4+ > Na+
CEC
Law of Mass
Ammonia gas
ACID RAIN