Fjölrit RALA - 15.06.2004, Qupperneq 94

Very recently discussed soil development aspects are frequent (daily) freeze-thaw cycles
during the cold periods (J. Galbraith, 2003, pers. comm.; Caspari et al., 2004), and a major
role of iron (Delvaux et al., 2004) that could be shown by EDX element mapping of the
microaggregates providing high contents of evenly distributed Fe (Báumler et al., 2004). It
indicates a stronger influence of Fe compounds, as previously thought, which might be named
“Ferro-(Alu-)andic” properties. Another overall factor might be airbome, fine-grained
sediments independent of the driving forces and the source materials either volcanic or non-
volcanic (Adjadeh and Inoue, 1999), and providing the basis for structural properties and
chemical weathering (Caspari et al., 2004).
With respect to the worldwide occurrence of such soils and the specificity of their
physicochemical properties, it is suggested a re-definition and probably simplification of
existing classification schemes as already mentioned by Poulenard and Herbillon (2000). The
apparently distinctive processes in these soils need to be further investigated. Such studies
may indicate that these are different from Andosolisation and Podzolisation sensu stricto.
References
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