Chemical, mineralogical and morphological characterization of three podzols developed on glacial deposits in Northern Europe

The chemistry, mineralogy and micromorphology of three soil profiles formed on genetically different Quaternary deposits have been studied in relation to the podzolization process. The soil materials showed quite uniform geochemical composition both within and between the study sites independent of great geographical distance and there is accumulation of sesquioxides in the Bs horizons at all three sites. Mineralogical distributions derived from calculated normative compositions, X-ray diffraction analysis and thin section point counting show similar depth-related trends. The clay fractions at all three sites are dominated by a vermiculitic phase which contains variable degrees of polymeric hydroxy-Al in the interlayer space in most B horizons.