ABSTRACT Soil traces are useful as forensic evidence due to their potential to transfer and adhere to different types of surfaces on a range of objects or persons. Several works have been developed in forensic soils, under different analytical approaches. However, in Brazil, only the researches from the Group of the Federal University of Paraná have developed works with soils under a forensic approach. Focus has been given on the sequential chemical analyses and mineralogical techniques once they presented a […]

ABSTRACT Variations in chemical and mineralogical properties of a soil can occur at short vertical and horizontal distances. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the chemical and mineralogical soil properties of different aggregate classes from young (Ustrochrept) and highly weathered (Acrustox) soils from the state of Paraná, Brazil. Undisturbed blocks (0.20 ×0.20 ×0.20 m) of soils were separated into aggregate classes: Acrustox – 8.0-4.0 mm; 4-2 mm; 2.0-0.5 mm; 0.5-0.2 mm; and <0.2 mm; and Ustrochrept – […]

A good knowledge of the spatial distribution of clay minerals in the landscape facilitates the understanding of the influence of relief on the content and crystallographic attributes of soil minerals such as goethite, hematite, kaolinite and gibbsite. This study aimed at describing the relationships between the mineral properties of the clay fraction and landscape shapes by determining the mineral properties of goethite, hematite, kaolinite and gibbsite, and assessing their dependence and spatial variability, in two slope curvatures. To this end, […]

The physical and chemical properties of a soil depend largely on its mineralogical constitution. Even over short horizontal distances, spatial variability may be high, and are best described by classical descriptive statistics associated with geostatistics. The objective of this study was to characterize the spatial variability of clay mineralogical properties of soils from the Guabirotuba formation, in the metropolitan region of Curitiba (PR), by classical descriptive statistics (especially coefficient of variation – CV) and geostatistics to propose more adequate sampling […]

Phosphorus is among the macronutrients the least absorbed by plants. Nevertheless, the amount of P-containing fertilizers applied to humid tropical and subtropical soils in relatively high. The reason is the strong interaction between of P and Fe and Al oxides, which are abundant in these soils. The study of these interactions is fundamental to know more about the relations between phosphorus adsorption and soil constituents. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the minerals in the clay fraction, […]

The distribution of the clay fraction minerals depends on specific soil-environmental conditions. The study of the relationship between properties of these minerals and specific sites of landscape occurrence is important to understand the relationship between the mineralogy and other soil attributes. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of cristallinity of goethite, hematite, kaolinite and gibbsite and the spatial pattern in an Oxisol under sugar cane for 30 years. In a grid with regular 10 m – intervals, 119 samples […]

The content and shap of clay minerals are important in the definition of soil structure morphology. To evaluate the clay mineralogy and chemical properties of different aggregate size-classes of Latosols (Red-Yellow – LBd and Dusky Red – LVdf) derived from basalt in the state of Paraná, Brazil, soil samples of the Bw1 and Bw2 horizons were collected in four LBd and three LVdf profiles, distributed across two distinct toposequences. Dried and undisturbed soil samples were separated into six size-classes (2-4; […]

Two Oxisol (Red-Yellow Latosol LBw and Dusky Red Latosol LVdf) toposequences in Paraná State, Brazil, were evaluated regarding the effect of different relief positions and parent material on mineralogical characteristics of the soil clay fraction. The clay fraction was investigated by X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry, and chemical analysis. Total Si, Al and Fe contents were determined after clay sample digestion with a 3:1 mixture of 36% HCl and 68% HNO3 acids. The Fe and Al contents were determined […]

Aluminum (Al) is one of the most abundant elements in weight in Brazilian soils, found in different minerals and forms. Considering the lack of information about its participation in the physical behavior of soil, the present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the mineralogy of the clay fraction, different forms of Al and physical attributes of different soils. Disturbed and undisturbed samples of A and B horizons of representative soils from the South and Campos das Vertentes physiographic regions […]

To study iron and aluminum oxide characteristics, samples of soils developed from different parent materials and with different development degrees were selected and collected from MG, ES, RS and RR states. The clay fraction was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry and electron microscopy. Al, Si and microelement contents were determined from ammonium oxalate (Ox) and dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) extractions. Overall, goethite (Gt) was the main iron oxide in the clay fraction. Only the soils developed from basalt […]