Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regoliths

Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regoliths, Second Edition, provides researchers and students with a tool for interpreting features observed in soil thin sections and through submicroscopic studies. After an introduction and general overview, micromorphological aspects of regoliths (e.g., saprolites, transported materials) are highlighted, followed by a systematic and coherent discussion of the micromorphological expression of various pedogenic processes. The book is written by an international team of experts in the field, using a uniform set of concepts and terminology, making it a valuable interdisciplinary reference work.

The following topics are treated: freeze-thaw features, redoximorphic features, calcareous and gypsiferous formations, textural features, spodic and oxic horizons, volcanic materials, organic matter, surface horizons, laterites, surface crusts, salt minerals, biogenic and pedogenic siliceous materials, other authigenic silicates, phosphates, sulphidic and sulphuric materials, and features related to faunal activity. The last chapters address anthropogenic features,archaeological materials and palaeosoils.

• Updates the first exhaustive publication on interpretation of micromorphological features, with some new chapters and with a larger number of additional references
• Covers related topics, making micromorphology more attractive and accessible for geomorphologists, archaeologists and quaternary geologists Includes thematic treatment of a range of soil micromorphology fields and broadens its applications
• Features input from a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring thorough coverage of topics related to soil science, archaeology and geomorphology

Postgraduate students and researchers in the fields of soil development, soil classification, quaternary geology, sedimentology and archaeology

1. Micromorphology as a tool in soil and regolith studies
Georges Stoops 
2. Colluvial and mass wasting deposits
Herman Mücher (†), Henk van Steijn and Frans Kwaad
3. Saprolites
Siti Zauyah, Carlos E.G.R. Schaefer, Felipe N.B. Simas 
4. Pedoplasmation: formation of soil material
Georges Stoops  and Carlos E.G.R. Schaefer  
5. Groundmass composition and fabric
Georges Stoops  and Florias Mees  
6. Pedogenic siliceous features
Ma. del Carmen Gutiérrez Castorena 
7. Biogenic siliceous features
Danuta Kaczorek, Luc Vrydaghs, Yannick Devos, Ákos Pető and William Effland  
8. Authigenic silicate minerals – sepiolite-palygorskite, zeolites and sodium silicates
Florias Mees 
9. Calcium carbonate features
Nicolas Durand, H.Curtis Monger, Matthew G. Canti and Eric Verrecchia  
10. Gypsic features
Rosa M. Poch, Octavio Artieda and Marina Lebedeva 
11. Salt minerals in saline soils and salt crusts
Florias Mees and Tatiana V. Tursina 
12. Phosphatic features
Panagiotis Karkanas and Paul Goldberg  
13. Sulphidic and sulphuric materials
Florias Mees and Georges Stoops 
14. Textural pedofeatures and related horizons
Peter Kühn,  José Aguilar, Rienk Miedema and Maria Bronnikova 
15. Redoximorphic features
Michael J. Vepraskas, David L. Lindbo and Mark H. Stolt  
16. Features related to faunal activity
Maja J. Kooistra and Mirjam M. Pulleman  
17. Soil organic matter
Kristin Ismail-Meyer, David L. Lindbo and Mark H. Stolt  
18. Organo-mineral surface horizons
Maria Gerasimova and Marina Lebedeva  
19. Physical and biological surface crusts and seals
Amanda J. Williams, Marcello Pagliai and Georges Stoops
20. Frost action
Brigitte Van Vliet-Lanoë and Catherine A. Fox  
21. Vertic features