Chemical weathering of the volcanic soils of Isla Santa Cruz (Galápagos Islands, Ecuador)

We present a study on weathering of volcanic soils using 43 profiles (131 horizons) sampled in Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos Islands). Several weathering indices, based on chemical composition, are used. Since the geological material is highly homogeneous the intensity of weathering is mostly related to climatic conditions controlled by topography. There is a gradient of increasing weathering from the arid conditions predominant in the coast to elevations of 400-500 m a.s.l. where much more humid conditions prevail

Micromorfological and mineralogical transformations in the weathering process of the Viveiro and Traba Granodiorites

[Resumen] Se realiza el estudio de dos perfiles de meteorizaci6n sobre granodioritas en Galicia (NW de España). El grado de drenaje condiciona la evolución de los feldespatos: en la saprolita de grano más grueso, con grandes fisuras, se transforman en gibbsita, en la de grano más fino este mineral aparece en las primeras etapas pero el producto final es halloysita. Las micas evolucionan en ambos casos hacia vermiculitas hidroxialumínicas.[Abstract] Two weathering profiles developed from granodiorites in Galicia (NW of Spain) are studied. The drainage degree determines the feldspars evolution. In the coarse grain saprolite, with great fissures, feldspars are transformed into gibbsite, while in the finer grain saprolite, the weathering product is halloysite. Micas change gradually to hidroxy-Al-interlayered vermiculite

Granite paleoweathering: A case-study under the tertiary deposit of Xinzo de Limia

[Resumen] Se estudia una paleoalteración desarrollada sobre granito y situada bajo un espesor de 120 m. de sedimentos en la cuenca terciaria de Xinzo de Limia (Ourense). El cambio minera16gico más significativo es la transformaci6n de las plagioclasas en caolinita. Se detectan también pequeñas proporciones de esmectitas. El estudio geoquímico revela una clara lixiviaci6n de bases, como lo pone de manifiesto la disminución de todos los índices de alteración (Indices de Parker, Reiche y pH de abrasi6n). El proceso de meteorización dominante es la monosialitización, con una cierta tendencia bisialítica en las primeras fases de la alteración.[Abstract] A granite paleoweathering located under 120 m of tertiary sediments at Xinzo de Limia (Galicia, NW Spain) is studied. The transformation ofplagioclase in kaolinite is the most important mineralogical change ocurred during the process. Minor proportions of smectite- are detected too. The geochemistry study reveales an evident lixiviation of bases, so the different weathering rates decrease as the process progresses (Parker and Reiche indexes and abrasion-pH). The dominant process of weathering is the monosialitization (PEDRO, 1979) although the first phases show a bisialitic trend

Weathering in granite and lamprophyre contact

[Resumen] Se realiza el estudio microestructural, mineralógico y geoquímico del proceso de meteorización en una zona de contacto granito-lamprófido. En la roca granítica se observa gibbsita, en los medios muy lixiviados, y filosilicatos 1: 1 en los menos drenados. En ellamprófido los productos son filosilicatos 1: 1, integrados vermiculíticos y oxi-hidróxidos de hierro; la abundancia de estos óxidos permite la conservación de la estructura original hasta etapas muy avanzadas dé la meteorización. El proceso global es de tipo monosialítico (fermonosialítico en las rocas básicas) con una tendencia inicial alitizante en las rocas graníticas. El pH de abrasión constituye un buen índice del grado de meteorización de estas rocas.[Abstract] In this paper is developed a microstructural, mineralogical and geochemical study of the weathering process in a contact between a granitic rock and a lamprophyre. In the granitic rack the main weathering products are gibbsite, under strongly leaching conditions, and 1: 1 phyllosilicates when the drainage is lesser. In the lamprophyre the products are 1: 1 phyllosilicates, vermiculitic integrades and iron oxides; the abundance of this oxides permit the conservation of rock structure till advanced stages of weathering. The overall process is moniosiallitic (fermonosiallitic in the basic rock), although an allitic tendency can be appreciated during the initial stages of the granitic rock weathering. The abrasion pH is good index to asses the weathering degree of these rocks

Phyllosilicate crystallinity in soils and weathering products from granitic rocks of Galicia

[Resumen] Se ha determinado la cristalinidad de micas y filosilicatos 1: 1 dioctaédricos de los limos y arcillas de 20 perfiles edáficos desarrollados sobre rocas graníticas. Se observa una estrecha relación entre el valor del índice de cristalinidad de los filosilicatos 2: 1, el tipo de mica predominante en el material de partida y el grado de desarrollo de los suelos; la menor cristalinidad aparece asociada a suelos formados a partir de materiales en los que la biotita es la única mica presente o la predominante. Los estudios de D. R. X., A. T. D. e 1. R. coinciden en señalar el predominio de filosicitatos 1: 1 de muy débil organización interna, comprobándose por microscopía electrónica que son fundamentalmente de tipo halloysítico[Abstract] Micas and dioctaedric 1: 1 phyllosilicate crystallinity of loam and clay fractions of twenty soil profiles developed from granite rocks have been determined. There are a clear relation among the cystallinity index of 2: 1 phyllosilicate, the prevailing type of mica in the soil-parent material and the soil evolution degree. Cystallinity is the lowest when soils are formed from granitic material when the most abundant mica is the biotite. XRD, DTA and RI studies indicate the predominance of very low ordered 1: 1 phyllosilicates, electron microscopy shows that they are mainly halloysitic anes

Characteristics principals of soils of Holguín province (Cuba). Use and soils management

[Abstract] In this paper was performed an compilation of the main characteristic and degradation processes of soils Holguín province (Cuba) in order to stablish a proposal management leading to soil preservation. The main soils in the zone are of four types. According to the cuban classification system the major soils are Fersialitics, Vertisoils, Bruns and Ferritic, which are respectively equivalent to the Luvisols, Vertisols, Cambisols and Ferralsols of the FAO system (1998). About 70% of the agricultural soils of the Holguín province are affected by different erosion degree. About 17% of soils are affected by salinity and are associated mainly to the group of Vertisoils, that in the greater part are dedicated to the sugarcane cultivated and at grassland. Together with the erosion and salinity procceses others limiting factors of the soils are the sodicity, contents of gravels and stones, efective deepth, carbonates content and relief

Compositional analysis of InAs-GaAs-GaSb heterostructures by low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy

As an alternative to Core-Loss Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy, Low-Loss EELS is suitable for compositional analysis of complex heterostructures, such as the InAs-GaAs-GaSb system, since in this energy range the edges corresponding to these elements are better defined than in Core-Loss. Furthermore, the analysis of the bulk plasmon peak, which is present in this energy range, also provides information about the composition. In this work, compositional information in an InAs-GaAs-GaSb heterostructure has been obtained from Low-Loss EEL spectra

Amplitude, Latency, and Peak Velocity in Accommodation and Disaccommodation Dynamics.

The aim of this work was to ascertain whether there are differences in amplitude, latency, and peak velocity of accommodation and disaccommodation responses when different analysis strategies are used to compute them, such as fitting different functions to the responses or for smoothing them prior to computing the parameters. Accommodation and disaccommodation responses from four subjects to pulse changes in demand were recorded by means of aberrometry. Three different strategies were followed to analyze such responses: fitting an exponential function to the experimental data; fitting a Boltzmann sigmoid function to the data; and smoothing the data. Amplitude, latency, and peak velocity of the responses were extracted. Significant differences were found between the peak velocity in accommodation computed by fitting an exponential function and smoothing the experimental data (mean difference 2.36 D/s). Regarding disaccommodation, significant differences were found between latency and peak velocity, calculated with the two same strategies (mean difference of 0.15 s and -3.56 D/s, resp.). The strategy used to analyze accommodation and disaccommodation responses seems to affect the parameters that describe accommodation and disaccommodation dynamics. These results highlight the importance of choosing the most adequate analysis strategy in each individual to obtain the parameters that characterize accommodation and disaccommodation dynamics

Abrasion pH use as an index ofweathering and pedogenesis degree in granitic soils of A Coruña (Spain).

[Resumen] En este trabajo se determina el pH de abrasión de las fracciones arenosas de un conjunto de perfiles de alteración y suelos desarrollados sobre rocas graníticas de la provincia de A Coruña (Galicia, NW de España). Se observa que tanto estos valores como el del pH de ·abrasión de la muestra total, sin materia orgánica, constituyen un buen índice del grado de evolución del material, presentando la ventaja, sobre otros índices, de su fácil y rápida determinación, por lo que parece un dato a tener en cuenta especialmente en los estudios a gran escala de cartografía y usos potenciales del suelo.[Abstract] In this paper were studied the abrasion pH in samples of several soils and veathering profiles developped on granitic rocks in A Coruña (Galicia, NW Spain). The abrasion pH values of sands and of the whole sample (organic matter free) are a good index to assess the evolution degree of the materials. This index is an esay and no time consuming test; so its use can be considered in large scale cartographic works and in studies on potential soil fertility