A Visual Atlas for Soil Micromorphologists

• Author: Verrecchia, Eric P.
• TeilnehmendeR: Trombino, Luca.
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (184 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

This open access atlas is an up-to-date visual resource on the features and structures observed in soil thin sections, i.e. soil micromorphology. The book addresses the growing interest in soil micromorphology in the fields of soil science, earth science, archaeology and forensic science, and serves as a reference tool for researchers and students for fast learning and intuitive feature and structure recognition. The book is divided into six parts and contains hundreds of images and photomicrographs. Part one is devoted to the way to sample properly soils, the method of preparation of thin sections, the main tool of soil micromorphology (the microscope), and the approach of soil micromorphology as a scientific method. Part two focuses on the organisation of soil fragments and presents the concept of fabric. Part three addresses the basic components, e.g. rocks, minerals, organic compounds and anthropogenic features. Part four lists all the various types of pedogenic features observed in a soil, i.e. the imprint of pedogenesis. Part five gives interpretations of features associated with the main processes at work in soils and paleosols. Part six presents a view of what the future of soil micromorphology could be. Finally, the last part consists of the index and annexes, including the list of mineral formulas. This atlas will be of interest to researchers, academics, and students, who will find it a convenient tool for the self-teaching of soil micromorphology by using comparative photographs.

Table of Contents

Intro -- Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction to the Atlas -- Contents -- About the Authors -- 1 Observation of Soils: From the Field to the Microscope -- File 1: The Multiscalar Nature of Soils -- File 2: History of Micromorphology -- File 3: Observation and Sampling of Soils -- File 4: How to Make Thin Sections -- File 5: The Polarized Light Microscope -- File 6: Other Techniques of Observation -- File 7: Electron and Energy Imaging -- File 8: Colours of Minerals -- File 9: The Micromorphological Approach -- 2 The Organization of Soil Fragments -- File 10: Concept of Fabric

File 11: Multiscalar Approach to Fabric -- File 12: Basic Distribution Patterns -- File 13: c/f Related Distributions I -- File 14: c/f Related Distributions II -- File 15: Aggregates and Aggregation -- File 16: Degree of Separation and Accommodation of Aggregates -- File 17: The Nature of Voids -- File 18: Morphology of Voids I -- File 19: The Morphology of Voids II -- File 20: Microstructure I -- File 21: Microstructure II -- 3 Basic Components -- File 22: Mineral and Organic Constituents -- File 23: Particle Size and Sorting -- File 24: Shape of Grains: Equidimensionality

File 25: Shape of Grains: Roundness and Sphericity -- File 26: Basalt, Granite, and Gabbro -- File 27: Schist, Gneiss, and Amphibolite -- File 28: Quartzite and Marble -- File 29: Calcium-Bearing Sedimentary Rocks -- File 30: Sand and Sandstone -- File 31: Mineral Grains in the Soil I: Quartz and Chalcedony -- File 32: Mineral Grains in the Soil II: Feldspar and Mica -- File 33: Mineral Grains in the Soil III: Inosilicates and Nesosilicates -- File 34: Mineral Grains in the Soil IV: Carbonates -- File 35: Mineral Grains in the Soil V: Chlorides and Sulphates -- File 36: Biominerals I

File 37: Biominerals II -- File 38: Biominerals III -- File 39: Anthropogenic Features I -- File 40: Anthropogenic Features II -- File 41: Organic Matter I -- File 42: Organic Matter II -- File 43: Humus -- File 44: Micromass -- File 45: B-Fabric I -- File 46: B-Fabric II -- 4 Pedogenic Features -- File 47: Imprints of Pedogenesis -- File 48: Iron- and Manganese-Bearing Nodules -- File 49: Carbonate Nodules -- File 50: Polygenetic Nodules -- File 51: Nodules: Morphology and Border Shape -- File 52: Nodules: Orthic, Anorthic, and Disorthic -- File 53: Crystals and Crystal Intergrowths

File 54: Impregnations -- File 55: Depletions -- File 56: Coatings with Clays I -- File 57: Coatings with Clays II -- File 58: Micropans, Coarse Coatings, Cappings, and Crusts -- File 59: Hypocoatings and Quasicoatings: Amorphous -- File 60: Coatings and Hypocoatings: Crystalline -- File 61: Mineral Infillings -- File 62: Mineral Infillings of Biological Origin -- File 63: Pedoturbations -- File 64: Faecal Pellets -- File 65: Dung and Vertebrate Excrements -- File 66: Composite Pedogenic Features -- File 67: Uncommon Features -- 5 Pedofeatures Associated to Soil Processes

File 68: Pedofeatures and Soil Processes