Sand Mineralogy as a Criterion for Soil Uniformity North West Wadi El-Natrun.

Abstract

IVE soil profiles were selected to represent the two major soil …….taxonomic subgroups (LCCM and LECN) NW Wadi ElNatrun. The sand subfraction (0.125-0.063mm) of those soils were reseparated into light and heavy minerals (opaques and nonopaques).The obtained results reveal that light minerals are mainly composed of quartz followed by low amounts of feldspars. Plagioclase and /or microcline predominates in both soils. Moreover, orthoclase is commonly the least abundant in the LCCM.Regarding heavy minerals, opaques are the predominant content is. In both soil subgroups, opaques are dominated by oxides followed by sulphides while hydroxides are the least. In the non-opaques, amphiboles exceed pyroxenes, Parametamorphic, ubibutous, epidotes minerals in a descending order in the LCCM while the converse is true in the LECN.The frequency and depthwise distributions of each identified mineral are presented for each profile and soil subgroups are interpreted in a trial to distinguish between those soil subgroups.Based on the ratios between heavy minerals and weathering ratios, the soil origin, genesis and formation are predicted and graphical triangular presentation for opaque and non-opaque minerals suggested the possible use of pyroboles, epidote, and parametamorphic relation for soils differentia.

Assessment and development of pedotransfer functions to estimate soil saturated hydraulic conductivity in arid soils with application to GIS mapping in the Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia

“…These fortyfive PTFs showed poor performance, for both as total soils and when grouped according to texture. In arid climate regions where less precipitation and high soil evaporation, which led to rare vegetation blanket, soil characterized by almost no organic content with the domination of sand fraction and high content of gypsum and calcium carbonates CaCO 3 (Bahnasawy, 2017;Francis & Aguilar, 1995). Calcium carbonate is commonly precipitated as the size of silt fraction or bonds to clay and/or silt particles behave like coarse sand (Al-Saeedi, 2022b;Fairbridge and Finkl, 1979).…”

Soil Mineralogy of North Western Desert, Egypt

“…Clay minerals are not only the most reactive inorganic components of soils, largely governing soil behaviors and properties, but they exhibit an extreme degree of both compositional and structural variability that result from intensive pedogenic weathering (Feldman et al, 2008). Bahnasawy (2016) studied the sand mineralogy of North West Wadi El Natroun. The obtained results reveal that light minerals are mainly composed of quartz followed by low amounts of feldspars.…”