Published 1985 Mineral Classification of Soils
Mineral Classification of Soils Editor J. A. Kittrick Proceedings of a symposium sponsored by Divisions S-5 and S-9 of the Soil Science Society of America in Atlanta, GA, 30 Nov. 1981 and Anaheim, CA, 29 Nov. 1982. L. W. Zelazny J. A. Kittrick R. D. Heil Organizing Committee C. S. Holzhey Editorial Committee A. J. Busacca W. D. Nettleton Editor-in-Chiej SSSA John J. Mortvedt Managing Editor Richard C. Dinauer Associate Editor Sherri H. Mickelson Hari Eswaran D. P. Franzmeier F. F. Peterson SSSA Special Publication Number 16 Soil Science Society of America, Inc., American Society of Agronomy, Inc., Publishers Madison, Wisconsin, USA 1985
Cover Design: Julia M. Whitty Soil Science Society of America, Inc. American Society of Agronomy, Inc. 677 South Segoe Road, Madison, WI 53711 USA Copyright 1985 by the Soil Science Society of America, Inc. American Society of Agronomy, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED UNDER THE U.S. COPYRIGHT LAW OF 1978 (P.L. 94-553) Any and all uses beyond the limitations of the "fair use" provision of the law require written permission from the publisher(s) and/or the author(s); not applicable to contributions prepared by officers or employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Mineral classification of soils. (SSSA special publication; no. 16) Papers from two symposiums held at the annual meetings of the Science Society of America in 1981 and 1982. 1. Soil mineralogy-classification-congresses. 2. Soils-Classification-Congresses. I. Kittrick, J. A. II. Soil Science Society of America. Division S-5. III. Soil Science Society of America. Division S-9. IV. Soil Science Society of America. Meeting (1981: Atlanta, Ga.). V. Soil Science Society of America. Meeting (1982: Anaheim, Calif.). VI. Series. S592.55.M55 1985 631.4'4 85-61664 ISBN 0-89118-777-4 Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents Dedication... vii Foreword... viii Preface............................................. ix 1 Problems with Identifying the Mineralogy Control Section in Soil Taxonomy D. A. Lietzke.................................. 1 2 Whole Soil Mineralogy-Criteria for Mineralogical Families in Soil Taxonomy D. A. Lietzke............................ 17 3 Problems Associated with the U.S. System of Soil Taxonomy Mineralogy Classes in Arid Regions D. M. Hendricks, W. D. Nettleton, and R. B. Grossman... 41 4 Family Mineralogy of Soils with Free Carbonates and Gypsum C. T. Hallmark.............................. 53 5 Problems Associated with the U.S. System of Soil Taxonomy Mineralogy Classes in Subhumid and Semiarid Regions J. L. Richardson and D. T. Lewis... 61 6 Problems Associated with the U.S. System of Soil Taxonomy Mineralogy Classes in the Glaciated Humid Region D. P. Franzmeier and J. A. McKeague... 75 7 Problems Associated with Soil Taxonomy Mineralogy Classes in the Nonglaciated Humid Region Ben F. Hajek and L. W. Zelazny... 87 8 Family Criteria for Soils Dominated by Amorphous and Poorly Crystalline Materials G. Uehara and H. Ikawa............................ 95 9 Problems Associated with Soil Taxonomy Mineralogy Classes of Tephra-Influenced Soils in the Pacific Northwest W. D. Nettleton and R. J. Engel... 103 10 Realistic Modification of Soil Taxonomy Mineralogy Classes of Tephra-Influenced Soils in the Pacific Northwest R. J. Engel and W. D. Nettleton... 115 11 Redefinition of the Glauconitic Family in Soil Taxonomy Warren C. Lynn and Ronald D. Yeck.................. 125 12 Ultramafic (Serpentinitic) Mineralogy Class E. B. Alexander, W. E. Wildman, and W. C. Lynn...... 135 13 Criteria Assessment for Micaceous and Illitic Classes in Soil Taxonomy W. G. Harris and L. W. Zelazny..................... 147 14 Criteria for Vermiculitic and Chloritic Family Classes in Soil Taxonomy Lowell A. Douglas... 161 15 Mineralogy Classes in Soil Families with Low Activity Clays S. W. Buol... 169 v
Dedication This book, Mineral Classification of Soils, is dedicated to Guy Donald Smith (1907-1981) in recognition of his outstanding contributions and leadership in soil science. Guy Smith was a native of Iowa. He earned his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees at the Univ. of Illinois and his A.M. degree at the Univ. of Missouri. While still a student, he served as assistant (1930-1934) and associate (1936-1940) at the Univ. of Illinois, and from 1934 to 1936, he was Head of Land Acquisition for the Resettlement Administration in Illinois. On completion of his Ph.D. degree in 1940, he joined the faculty of the Univ. of Illinois as assist an t professor. From 1942 to 1946, Dr. Smith served in the U.S. Army Air Force of World War II. On his discharge, he joined the Soil Survey Division of USDA as senior soil correlator at Ames, IA. He advanced to principal correlator for the Upper Mississippi Valley in 1950 and, in 1952, became director of Soil Survey Investigations. After his retirement from USDA in 1972, he served as visiting professor at the Univ. of Ghent, Belgium, until his death. Dr. Smith was the leading figure and driving force in the development of Soil Taxonomy, the comprehensive soil classification system of the United States (USDA Agric. Handb. 436, 1975). He held the Francquire Chair at the Univ. of Ghent from 1964 to 1965 to enlist European collaboration in its development. After his retirement, he consulted widely on the system's applications, including service to the Organization of American States, Venezuela, and New Zealand. Although Soil Taxonomy is Dr. Smith's most widely known contribution, he left his mark on soil science in a variety of subjects. Among them, his study of claypans (Missouri Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Bull. 210, 1934) brought him national recognition. His work on the pedologic implications of the properties and distribution of loess in Illinois (Illinois Agric. Exp. Stn. Bull. 490, 1942) remains a classic. He was senior author of the landmark article, "Prairie Soils of the Upper Mississippi Valley" (Adv. Agron., 1950). Beyond his contributions to the subject matter of soil science, Dr. Smith's leadership and personal service must be recognized. His rigorous application of scientific thought and method became a model for pedologists of the United States. He served the Soil Science Society of America as Vice-president (1958) and President (1959). He was a member of the Organizing Committee for the Seventh International Congress of Soil Science and chaired the Committee on Tours. He was awarded the Soil Science Achievement Award by the Soil Science Society of America in 1964 and was named an honorary member on his retirement. He was a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. Marlin C. Cline (retired), professor emeritus Cornell University, Ithaca, NY vii
Foreword Mineral Classification of Soils is a comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of the use of information concerning minerals in the classification of soils. Soil Taxonomy utilizes mineral classification primarily at the family level but also at other hierarchical levels. Because the mineral composition contributes significantly to the behavior of soils, incorporation of this information into Soil Taxonomy is important. Fifteen chapters addressing nearly all aspects of soil mineralogy as they affect Soil Taxonomy are included. Chapters include treatment of problems with present mineral classes and control sections, redefinition of mineral classes, and establishment of criteria and classes for soils dominated by amorphous and poorly crystalline material including low activity clays. This publication is a result of two Soil Science Society of America symposiums held by Divisions S-5 and S-9 at the annual meetings in Atlanta, GA and Anaheim, CA in 1981 and 1982, respectively. All authors are recognized authorities. The information presented will be useful to scientists in many disciplines. This comprehensive treatment of the subject presented in one volume will be most useful. On behalf of the Soil Science Society of America, our thanks to the authors, editors, and the organizing committee. E. C. A. Runge, president Soil Science Society of America W. E. Larson, president American Society of Agronomy viii
Preface As new soil mineralogy information accumulates and is better understood, parallel opportunities for improving soil classification are created. Continuous alteration of the classification schemes is impractical. Therefore, new mineralogy information must be incorporated periodically, but only after assessment and debate. This special publication serves the assessment and debate process well, because it places many problems and proposed mineralogy-related changes in soil classification into a single collection. The focus of this process is a symposium entitled Mineral Classification of Soils that Division S-9 (Soil Mineralogy) of the Soil Science Society of America organized. The symposium was held in two sessions, one at the 1981 SSSA meetings in Atlanta, GA and the other in 1982 at the Anaheim, CA meetings. These meetings were cosponsored by Division S-5 (Soil Genesis, Morphology, and Classification). Fifteen of the 18 papers presented at this symposium appear in this publication. These papers examine criteria and techniques that are the foundation of mineralogy classes, primarily at the family level. Special thanks goes to Monica Engle for editorial assistance. Editorial Committee J. A. Kittrick, chair A. J. Busacca D. P. Franzmeier R. D. Heil w. D. Nettleton F. F. Peterson ix