HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Matelski, R. P. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Matelski, R. P. Agricola Articles by Matelski, R. P.

Removal of Coatings from Soil Particles for Petrographic Analysis¹

ABSTRACT

Detergents and builders have been used successfully to remove the organic and inorganic coatings from soil particles prior to petrographic analysis. Essentially, the procedure consists of triturating the soil sample in a liter beaker with a cationic detergent, dilution and decantation of the clay and fine silt, followed by several triturations with an anionic detergent and builders, dilution and decantation of the clay and fine silt.

Soils representative of the Prairie, Chernozem, Chestnut, Reddish Chestnut, Gray-Brown Podzolic, Podzol, Red-Yellow Podzolic, Planosol, Grumusol, Humic Glei and Ground-Water Podzol were investigated. All coarse silt and sand particles after treatment were free of organic matter, iron oxide and other coatings. No hydrogen peroxide was needed to remove the organic matter from the soil.

The effect of the reagents of this and of Jeffries' nascent hydrogen procedure on apatite, hornblende and albite are shown on photomicrographs. Considerably less breakdown of the minerals is evident with the proposed method. In general, the suggested new procedure is more rapid, simple and less destructive than the currently used soil cleaning methods.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 585, Journal Series, Nebraska Agritural Experiment Station. Presented before Division II, Soil Science Society of America, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 20, 1952.

² Associate Professor of Agronomy. Laboratory assistance by H. G. Barker, A. G. Davis, F. W. Hosterman, R. F. Sand, and J. M. Schade, student assistants.

Received for publication December 3, 1952.