Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regoliths

Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regolith, 2nd edition, provides researchers and students with a global tool for interpretation of micromorphological features of regoliths and soils. After an introduction and general overview by the editors, micromorphological aspects of regoliths (e.g. saprolites, unconsolidated sediments, transported materials) are highlighted, followed by a systematic and coherent discussion of the micromorphological expression of various pedogenic processes. This is done by discussing diagnostic horizons, materials and processes. The following topics are also treated: freeze-thaw features, redoximorphic features, calcareous and gypsiferous formations, textural features, spodic and oxic horizons, andic and volcanic materials, organic and surface horizons, laterites, surface crusts, salts, biogenic and inorganic siliceous materials, authigenic silicates, phosphates, thionic and derived materials, and features related to faunal activity. The last chapters address the impact of anthropic activities, with regard to archaeology and palaeopedology.

Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regolith, 2nd edition, is written by a team of well-known, global experts in the field who all used a single set of concepts and terminology, making it a valuable interdisciplinary reference.

1. Micromorphology as a tool in soil and regolith studies Georges Stoops Sr. 2. Micromorphological features and their relation to processes and classification Georges Stoops Sr., Vera Marcelino and Florias Mees 3. Sediments as parent materials Jaap van der Meer and John Menzies 4. Colluvial and mass wasting deposits Herman Mücher, H van Steijn and F Kwaad 5. Saprolites Martine Gérard, Carlos Schaefer, F. Simas and Siti Zauyah 6. Pedoplasmation: formation of soil material Georges Stoops Sr. and Carlos Schaefer 7. Fabric and composition of the groundmass Florias Mees and Georges Stoops Sr. 8. Pedogenic siliceous features Ma. del Carmen Gutiérrez Castorena 9. Biogenic siliceous features Danuta Kaczorek, Luc Vrydagh and William Effland 10. Authigenic silicate minerals - sepiolite-palygorskite, zeolites and sodium silicates Florias Mees 11. Calcium carbonate features Nicolas Durand, C. Monger, Matthew Canti and Eric Verrecchia 12. Gypsic features Rosa M. Poch, Octavio Artieda and M. Lebedeva 13. Salt minerals in saline soils and salt crusts Florias Mees 14. Phosphatic features Panagiotis Karkanas and Paul Goldberg 15. Sulphidic and sulphuric materials Florias Mees and Georges Stoops Sr. 6. Textural pedofeatures and related horizons Peter Kühn, M. Bronnikova, J. Aguilar and Rienk Miedema 17. Redoximorphic features M. Vepraskas, David Lindbo and M. stolt 8. Features related to faunal activity Maja J. Kooistra and Mirjam Pulleman 19. Organic matter Kristin Ismail-Meyer, David Lindbo and M. stolt 20. Topsoils Maria Gerasimova and M. Lebedeva 21. Physical and biological surface crusts Amanda J. Williams, Georges Stoops Sr. and Marcello Pagliai 22. Frost action Brigitte Van Vliet-Lanoë and Catherine fox 23. Vertic features Irina Kovda and A. Mermut 24. Spodic materials Mike Wilson 25. Oxic and related materials Vera Marcelino, Georges Stoops Sr. and Carlos Schaefer 26. Lateritic and bauxitic materials Georges Stoops Sr. and Vera Marcelino 27. Regoliths and soils on volcanic ash Sergey Sedov and Georges Stoops Sr. 28. Anthropogenic features Paul W. Addeley, C.A. Wilson, I.A. Simpson and D.A. Davidson 29. Archaeological materials Richard I. Macphail and Paul Goldberg 30. Palaeosoils and relict soils, a conceptual approach Marie-Agnès Courty and Guo Zhengtang 31. Palaeosoils and relict soils, a systematic review Mauro Cremaschi, Luca Trombino and Andrea Zerboni