Different Quartz Varieties Characterized by Proximal Sensing and Their Relation to Soil Attributes
Author:
Silva Sérgio Henrique Godinho1ORCID, Ribeiro Diego1, Dijair Thaís Santos Branco1ORCID, Silva Fernanda Magno1, Teixeira Anita Fernanda dos Santos1, Andrade Renata1, Mancini Marcelo1ORCID, Guilherme Luiz Roberto Guimarães1ORCID, Curi Nilton1
Affiliation:
1. Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil
Abstract
Quartz is one of the most common minerals in soils, mostly present in sand and silt fractions. Although quartz is basically formed of SiO2, other elements can be easily detected and assessed nowadays using a portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer. Our study aims to evaluate the chemical composition of different quartz varieties, identifying their main elements, and relating them to soil attributes. Six quartz varieties (hyaline, amethyst, milky, rose, smoky, and ferriferous) were analyzed via pXRF and 13 oxides/trace elements were identified and used for quartz discrimination (Al2O3, CaO, P2O5, SiO2, Cl, Cr, Fe, K2O, Mn, Rb, S, Ti, and V). Hyaline quartz was characterized by the highest SiO2 and the lowest contents of other elements. Al2O3 was the second-highest compound present in all varieties of quartz, reaching 21,547 mg kg−1 in the smoky variety. S, P2O5, Cl, SiO2, and K2O were the main components determined by Random Forest algorithm for discriminating quartz varieties. Some elements detected may serve as a reserve of nutrients to plants to be released in soils along weathering, depending on quartz particle size, soil texture, leaching, and associated attributes. pXRF enhanced the information on chemical characterization of quartz varieties, without the generation of chemical pollutants.
Funder
The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development CAPES FAPEMIG
Subject
Geology,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Reference39 articles.
1. Wicander, R., and Monroe, J.S. (2005). Essentials of Geology, Brooks Cole. [4th ed.]. 2. White, R.E. (2006). Principles and Practice of Soil Science: The Soil as a Natural Resource, Blackwell Publishing. [4th ed.]. 3. Schaetzl, R.J., and Anderson, S. (2015). Soils: Genesis and Geomorphology, Cambridge University Press. [2nd ed.]. 4. Buol, S.W., Southard, R.J., Graham, R.C., and McDaniel, P.A. (2011). Soil Genesis and Classification, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.. [6th ed.]. 5. Brady, N.C., and Weil, R.R. (2002). Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils, Pearson Education Ltd.. [2nd ed.].
|
|