Methods of Soil Analysis Part 5—Mineralogical Methods
Soil Science Society of America book series · 2008
Soil mineralogy has a profound influence on the chemical characteristics and dynamic behavior of soils and the environment. An understanding of the mineralogical composition provides insight into the fundamental behavior of soils and their response to environmental conditions and management. The contributors present valuable techniques that will enable researchers to analyze mineralogy for a wide variety of applications—from soil classification to environmental remediation. Highlights include extensive coverage of new techniques, such as X-ray absorption and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and updated chapters on thermal analysis and selective dissolution methodologies. Soils are dynamic and diverse, and so are soil minerals. The emphasis of this volume is on the analysis and interpretation of data to aid in identifying soil minerals and understanding their impact on soils and the environment. Our target audience is researchers and advanced students in soils, geology, mineralogy, environmental engineering, and environmental sciences. Each chapter provides an understanding of the basic principles and theory of the method, guides the reader through the method itself, and finally assists in the interpretation and analysis of results collected.