Black and white waters and their possible relationship to the podzolization process

Abstract

Highly coloured, organic-stained water (black water) occurs as springs, seeps and perched lakes in the Cooloola area of south-eastern Queensland (latitude 26° S.). Springs of clear, colourless water (white water) sometimes occur in close proximity to the black water. Field evidence suggests that black waters move laterally along semipermeable B horizons of humus podzols, whereas white waters are part of a much larger storage system in which the water has been decolorized by contact with the C horizons. Thus it appears that black waters are the active eluviating agent and white waters are the residual liquid phase of the podzolization process. Chemical analyses of black and white waters, and the results of a laboratory leaching experiment, support this view. Possible mechanisms and some implications for the genesis of podzol B horizons are discussed.