Micromorphology of three Gray Luvisolic soils under Boreal Forests occurring on late Wisconsinan age glacial till were studied. Profiles 1 and 2 occurred on loam with 8–10% carbonates; Profile 3 on clay loam till with 58% carbonates. The presence of various fecal pellets shows the importance of soil fauna in the decomposition of litter and the formation of aggregates in organic horizons. Aggrotubules and fecal pellets in the lower part of the profiles testified to the presence of biological activity even at depth. Several types of banded fabrics and iron-manganese nodules were observed, and are thought to result from temporary saturated conditions of the Ae horizons. Ferri-argillans occur as both illuviation (due to lessivage) and in situ weathering cutans. The weakest ferriargillans were found in the thickest profile. The most birefringent ferriargillans with strong continuous orientation and the most abundant iron-manganese nodules were found in Profile 3 which had the thinnest solum. This indicates that high carbonate content reduces the depth of solum, but not intensity of soil-forming processes. Considerable amount of weathering of the primary minerals, particularly sand-sized micas and feldspars in the C horizons was attributed to ancient chemical weathering. Analyses indicated the physical breakdown of sand particles to silt in the Ae horizons. Neocalcitans were observable in the relatively thicker Profiles 1 and 2 and calcans were specific to Profile 3 with extremely calcareous, dominantly dolomitic parent material. Key words: Luvisols, Boreal Forest soil, micromorphology, nodules, cutans, faunal activity
Raman and Infrared Reflection Spectroscopic Study of Mineralogical Composition of Iron-Manganese Nodules (Pacific and Indian Oceans)
