CHARACTERISTICS AND GENESIS OF BRUNISOLIC SOILS OF NORTHERN ALBERTA

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Soil Science
• Main Authors: Pawluk, S., Lindsay, J. D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1964
• Subjects: Soil Science; Wood Buffalo; Wood Buffalo National Park
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjss64-044; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.4141/cjss64-044

Exploratory surveys of the Wood Buffalo National Park in Northern Alberta revealed the presence of vast tracts of brunisolic soils. These soils are of common occurrence in the low plains area adjacent to Lake Clare.The brunisolic soils included in this study belong to the Brown Forest, Brown Wooded, and Acid Brown Wooded Great Soil Groups. All profiles were characterized with respect to their physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties. Special attention was directed to the Bf horizons where magnetic, amorphous (to X-ray) humus–iron micropellets were identified with the use of an electron microscope. The release of iron oxide from the weathering of iron-rich chlorites was also evident and is suggested as a mechanism by which the accretion of iron oxide to a pellet form could be explained. The possible genesis of these micropellets is fully discussed.