The identification of minerals in soil colloids

Abstract

X-ray, optical, dehydration and chemical methods in use for the identification of minerals in soil colloids are discussed with special regard to their limitations. These are mainly due to uncertainties about the variation of physical properties of standard minerals with decreasing grain size and the possible existence and importance of amorphous material. The aggregate method in X-ray analysis, which is specially important for soil colloids, is described. Various techniques for dehydration and optical analysis are discussed, and it is concluded that they are useful only when used in combination with X-ray data. The advantages of combining various chemical methods with X-ray analysis are pointed out. Standard data are given for a number of minerals, and the evidence for their occurrence in soil colloids is reviewed. These minerals are quartz, cristobalite, oxides and hydroxides of iron and aluminium, minerals of the kaolinite, montmorillonite and mica groups.