Mineralogical Study For Some Soils Along The Lower Zab River

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the most important clay minerals and molecular ratios of the major elements in the crystalline lattice to determine the severity of weathering processes. in alluvial soils along the Lower Zab River .Six sites selected for soils in the basin of the Lower Zab river, three of which are located on the right side of the Zab River in Abbasi township and three of them on the left side of the river in Zab township , two Pedons are alluvial soils adjacent to the river and the third Pedon far from the river for comparison in each side of the river, All Pedons were described morphological then soil samples excited to make some physical chemical and mineralogical analysis . X-Ray diffraction analysis showed dominance of mica followed by chlorite ,Smectite, kaolinite, Palygorskite and vermiculite in fourth Pedon and Smectite, chlorite, kaolinite and Palygorskite then vermiculite in the fifth Pedon while the dominance in sixth Pedon after mica was kaolinite, chlorite, Smectite then Palygorskite and vermiculite for Pedons located in the Abbasi area while Pedons located in the Zab area dominant clay mineral was Smectite in the first and second Pedons followed by chlorite, mica, kaolinite and vermiculite then Palygorskite in the first Pedon and mica, chlorite, kaolinite and vermiculite in the second Pedon while the mica was the dominant in the third Pedon followed by Smectite, kaolinite , chlorite, vermiculite and Palygorskite. Results showed that the interstratified minerals disappears except the mixed layer mineral (Chlorite – Swelling Chlorite). Kaolinite mineral showed low content in the second Pedon and increase of the mineral content in sedimentary Pedons 1 and 3.The results of some molecular ratios of the major elements in the crystalline lattice for the Mineral components to each other showed that sedimentary Pedons were more susceptible to weathering than the Pedons far from the river.