Abstract The geochemical behavior of the major, minor, trace and rare earths elements (REEs) in soil profiles from ultramafic volcanoclastic rocks of the Vulcão do Paredão and Morro Vermelho Formation from Trindade Island (TI) was analyzed in this study. Losses and gains of chemical elements were calculated through the mass balance for two profiles along the slope: one located at higher altitude (460 m) and the other at lower altitude (258 m). In all profiles, Al, Fe and Ti accumulate due to their low mobility, whereas Ca, Na, K and Mg are the most intensely leached. Soils located at lower altitude show higher K and Mg values in the surface due to the contribution of saline sprays. Leaching of the REEs from higher to the lower slope led to the enrichment of these elements, especially the light REEs, in the soil at the lowest altitude (258 m). The high altitude profile showed Ce positive anomaly due to longer exposure to weathering. The geochemical balance shows a relative enrichment of Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, V, Zr, S related to the loss of mobile elements during the soil formation process, despite the youthful nature of these volcanic rocks.

ABSTRACT The pedological studies carried out so far in Trindade Island (TI) have obtained patchy evidences of allophane, without detailed mineralogical and micromorphological studies to confirm the occurrence of Andosols in TI. Therefore, in this study, the mineralogical, micromorphological, physical and chemical characterization of four soil profiles from Vulcão do Paredão (P1) and Morro Vermelho formations (P2, P3, and P4) were carried on the latest volcanic events in Brazil from Trindade Island (TI) with the aim of to evaluate the presence of Andosols in this oceanic island. Profiles P1 and P2 are developed on pyroclastic bombs, and show, respectively, A-Bi- C and decapitated A-C horizons, whereas P3 and P4 are developed on lapillitic and bomb pyroclasts, show A-C horizons. The soil profiles have a reddish and brownish clayey matrix, are highly friable and show a plastic consistency. Their microstructures are granular, single grain and intergrain microaggregate, in which aggregates display an undifferentiated b-fabric. The mineralogical constituents of the bulk fraction are biotite, hematite, magnetite, ilmenite, pyroxene, olivine, halloysite, goethite, anatase, and rutile. The clay fraction is marked by the presence of halloysite, ferrihydrite, and little amounts of allophane. All soils presented andic properties and can be classified as non-allophanic Andosols. In addition, micromorphological features closely resemble those reported in Andosols from other volcanic islands from elsewhere. The predominance of halloysite in the clay fraction formed by alteration of sideromelane, suggests that allophane would be an intermediate phase of this rapid transformation favored by the wet climate conditions of the highest parts of TI.

Abstract Soil provides important support for anthropogenic activities, and earthen trails, which have always been present in the natural landscape, are routes of access to various tourist attractions. In recent decades, trails have been widely used as a method of access and visitation to geotouristic attractions. Because trails are restricted routes, transit along these paths also transforms the route into a pathway for the spread of various negative environmental impacts, including compaction and soil erosion of the trailbed. Soil compaction is caused by changes in the soil structure that are partly induced by the use of agricultural or geotechnical machinery and traffic, and the damage is also manifested in a remarkable decrease in porosity, which has clear implications for the infiltration and percolation of water and air associated with the functional porosity of soil. Soil micromorphological characteristics contribute to the analysis of soil porous systems, and the macroporous characteristics visible at this scale include the size, shape and connectivity among voids, which can be studied using different methods of identification, measurement and interpretation. Such methods are applied to understand the pore genesis and, more importantly, the physical behavior of soil-water order management. This work presents the results of analyses of the macromorphological and micromorphological characteristics, porosity, texture and penetrometry resistance of soil profiles on the Farofa Waterfall trail in the Serra do Cipó National Park, and the aim is to provide recommendations for compaction studies along special trails. The results showed that most of the trailbed is more compressed than at the margins, which suggests the need for geoindicator studies of soil quality to monitor the visitation of the trail and improve the conservation of natural resources.

ABSTRACT Pedological studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) showed a Xanthic Ferralsol formed from the degradation of bauxite on a slope in the Caparaó region, in southeastern Brazil. We found a decrease in the number and size of bauxite fragments toward the top of the profiles, bauxite fragments that were more degraded at the top of the profiles, transformation of gibbsite into kaolinite, and absolute enrichment in silicon in the mass balance. These indicators suggest that resilication could be the major process responsible for formation of the soil; detailed studies are needed to verify the origin of the silica. The reintroduction of silica into the system occurs by the biogeochemical cycling of vegetation and, in some cases, water table fluctuations, highlighting the role of resilication as a soil-forming process in bauxite-derived soils.

Importantes processos erosivos após o Cretáceo foram responsáveis pela evolução da paisagem na região de João Pinheiro, onde ocorrem os depósitos de espongilito. O avanço desses processos, aliados às rochas carbonáticas do substrato, permitiu o desenvolvimento de feições cársticas negativas, onde foram instaladas as lagoas formadoras dos depósitos de espongilito. Com base no tratamento de imagens de satélite aliado a trabalhos de campo, quatro morfodomínios geomorfológicos foram identificados na área: i) morfodomínio 1, representado por platôs associados aos arenitos do Grupo Areado, apresenta as maiores altitudes da área; ii) morfodomínio 2, que constitui uma área dissecada relacionada aos pelitos do Grupo Areado; iii) morfodomínio 3, representado por superfícies de erosão associadas às rochas do Grupo Bambui e Pré-Bambuí, sendo sobrepostas por sedimentos terciários/quaternários, onde se encontram as lagoas; iv) morfodomínio 4, constitui vales em calha que contêm as principais drenagens da região (rios da Prata e Paracatu) segundo um padrão meandrante, com feição geomorfológica fluvial de rios underfit. Esses vales cortam a superfície de aplainamento (morfodomínio 3) que contêm sedimentos pleistocênicos, caracterizando o morfodomínio mais recente.

Important erosive processes that took place after the Cretaceous Era were responsible for the evolution of the landscape in the João Pinheiro region where spongillite deposits occur. The progression of these erosive processes on the carbonate rocks led to the development of negative karstic features where the ponds present formed the spongillite deposits. Based on field studies and analysis of multispectral images, four geomorphological domains were identified: i) domain 1, represented by a plateau related to sandstones from the Areado Group that present the highest altitudes in the area; ii) domain 2, that constitutes a desiccated area related to pelites from the Areado Group; iii) domain 3, comprising a karstic planation surface associated with carbonate rocks from the Bambui Group and Pré-Bambuí unit covered by Cenozoic sediments where the ponds occur; iv) domain 4, composed of gutter shaped valleys enclosing meandering of underfit streams (of the Prata and Paracatu rivers). These valleys cut through the karstic planation surface (domain 3) where Pleistocene sediments occur and characterize the more recent morphological domain.

Geomorfologicamente o Quadrilátero Ferrífero é uma região conspícua, onde raízes de estruturas metassedimentares proterozóicas, apresentando feições de um relevo jovem, encontram-se em destaque sobre um mar de colinas de rochas cristalinas do Arqueano. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo da evolução da paisagem do Quadrilátero Ferrífero por meio da análise integrada dos dados quantitativos das taxas de erosão (10Be) e dos tipos de perfis de solos desenvolvidos a partir dos principais litotipos da região. A mensuração da concentração de 10Be extraído do quartzo de veios, de quartzitos e de sedimentos fluviais foi obtida utilizando um espectrômetro de massa por acelerador. A razão média de erosão de 7 m por milhão de anos coloca em evidência um importante soerguimento epirogenético da região em estudo. Concordantemente, os estudos macromorfológicos, mineralógicos e micromorfológicos de todos os perfis de solos investigados por meio de trabalhos de campo, da difração de raios X e da microscopia óptica mostram perfis imaturos e autóctones. Esses resultados sugerem que o relevo do Quadrilátero Ferrífero é um produto de constante e intenso processo erosivo.

A geomorphological overview of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero reveals a conspicuous region where roots of metassedimentary Proterozoic strucutures, displaying young relief features, are in evidence over a sea of hills from the Archean basement. This paper deals with the landscape evolution in the "Quadrilátero Ferrífero" region, based on the integrated analysis of quantitative data of the erosion rates (10 Be) and of the soil types developed from the main rocks of the region. The 10Be concentration extracted from quartz of veins, quartzites and fluvial sediments was measured by a mass spectrometer (accelerator). The mean erosion ratio of 7 m Ma-1 highlights a significant regional epirogenetic uplift. In agreement, the macromorphological, mineralogical and micromorphological studies of all soil profiles, investigated by field work, X ray diffraction and optical microscopy, showed immature and autochthonous soils. These results suggest that the relief of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero is product of a constant and intense erosion process.

A Península de Santa Elena, localizada a sudoeste do litoral equatoriano, é formada por rochas ígneas e sedimentares do Cretáceo até o Quaternário. As argilas pesquisadas são provenientes da alteração de cinzas vulcânicas andinas e encontram-se inseridas nos argilitos das unidades do Eoceno Médio ao Mioceno Médio (Grupo Ancón, Formações Tosagua e Progreso). Análises mineralógicas (DRX, ATG e ATD), análises texturais (distribuição granulométrica, superfície especifica e estudo morfológico por microscopia eletrônica de varredura) e análises químicas (fluorescência de raios-X e capacidade de troca catiônica) permitiram a seleção de quatro depósitos, cujo principal argilomineral é a montmorilonita com ferro, em associação com caulinita e traços de mica. As argilas desses depósitos foram caracterizadas como bentonitas cálcicas.

The Santa Elena Peninsula, located in the southwest of the Ecuadorian coast, consists of igneous and sedimentary rocks from the Cretaceous to the Quaternary era. The sampled clays originated from the alteration of Andean volcanic ashes found inserted in the clay rocks of the Eocene Medium to Miocene Medium (Ancon Group and, Tosagua and Progreso Formations). Mineralogical analysis (XDR, ATG and ATD), textural analysis (grain size distribution, specific surface and morphological analysis by SEM), and chemical analysis (X-ray fluorescence and CEC), have permitted the selection of four deposits that have iron-montmorillonite as their main clay mineral, in association with kaolinite and traces of mica. Clays of theses deposits have been characterized as calcic bentonites.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi efetuar a caracterização mineralógica dos óxidos de ferro de horizontes B de três perfis de solos desenvolvidos sobre gnaisse do geodomínio do Complexo Bação, no Quadrilátero Ferrífero, em Minas Gerais. As amostras foram coletadas ao longo dos segmentos de alta, média e baixa vertente. As frações de terra fina (diâmetro médio, fi = 2 mm) foram separadas, em todas as amostras. A composição química dos elementos maiores foi determinada por meio da técnica de fluorescência de raios X; a análise mineralógica foi realizada com difratometria de raios X e espectroscopia Mössbauer. Todas as amostras têm composição mineralógica similar, cuja ocorrência geral corresponde à seqüência quartzo >> gibbsita > caulinita > goethita. Os resultados Mössbauer a 4,2 K confirmam a coexistência de goethita (majoritária) e hematita. Os conteúdos de alumínio isomórfico foram deduzidos dos valores de campos hiperfinos e correspondem às seguintes fórmulas químicas das goethitas: alfaFe0,79Al0,21OOH (alta vertente), alfaFe0,75Al0,25OOH (meia vertente) e alfaFe0,78Al0,22OOH (baixa vertente). A dinâmica de transformação dos óxidos de ferro nos horizontes B ao longo da vertente é um indicador das oscilações paleoclimáticas na área: goethita mais aluminosa é um indicador do paleoambiente úmido, e goethita menos aluminosa revela condições pedogênicas mais secas.

The objective of this work was to characterize iron oxides from B-horizons of three soil profiles developing on gneiss of the Bação Complex geodomain in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Samples were collected from the uppest, middle and lowest segments along the slope. The earth fine fractions (mean diameter, phi = 2 mm) were separated for all samples. The chemical composition of the major elements was determined with the X-ray fluorescence technique; the mineralogical analysis was performed with powder X-ray diffractomer and Mössbauer spectroscopy. All samples have similar mineralogical composition, with a general occurrence corresponding to the sequence quartz >> gibbsite > kaolinite > goethite. From the 4.2 K-Mössbauer results, the coexistence of goethite (major) and hematite is confirmed. The isomorphic aluminum contents, as they were deduced from the hyperfine fields, lead to the following chemical formulas for goethites: alphaFe0.79Al0.21OOH (upslope), alphaFe0.75Al0.25OOH (midslope) and alphaFe0.78Al0.22OOH (downslope). The iron oxides transformation dynamics in B horizons along the slope is a useful indicator of the paleo-climatic oscillations in this area: aluminous goethite is an indicator of humid paleo-environments, whereas aluminous-poorer goethite reveals drier pedogenic conditions.