Allophane and halloysite content and soil solution silicon in soils from rhyolitic volcanic material, New Zealand

Abstract

The relationship between Si in soil solution and allophane and halloysite content was studied by using a drainage sequence of three New Zealand soils from rhyolitic volcanic alluvium. Clay mineralogy was compared with soil colour and drainage. Allophane and halloysite contents of two morphologically similar soils from rhyolitic volcanic ash were also studied and possible reasons for differences in mineralogy were determined. Allophane was estimated by acid oxalate and pyrophosphate dissolution. The Al/Si ratio of the allophane was determined and the allophane content of the soil was estimated from the Si extracted in acid-oxalate. Halloysite was estimated by differential thermal analysis of the whole soil. Soil samples were centrifuged with a dense water-immiscible organic liquid to displace the soil solution from between soil particles. The Si in soil solution was then determined by spectrophotometry. Allophane was predominant when Si in soil solution was <10gm-3, and halloysite was predominant when Si in soil solution was >10gm-3. Low Si in soil solution and the presence of allophane was associated with well drained horizons which could be identified by their ochreous colour. High Si in soil solution, the absence of allophane and predominance of halloysite, was associated with poorly drained horizons. These horizons could be identified by their pale colour (chroma <2). In two morphologically similar soils, the change from allophane dominance in one soil to hahoysite dominance in the other soil also corresponded to an increase in Si in soil solution. This was probably the result of slightly slower horizon permeability which increased Si in soil solution to a level favouring halloysite formation.