CARACTERIZAÇÃO DOS LATOSSOLOS DA CHAPADA DE ARAGUARI: MINERAIS ARGILOSOS, GRANULOMETRIA E EVOLUÇÃO

Resumo

The mineralogical composition of the latosols in the study area as determined by X-ray diffraction. Kaolinite and goethite is the dominant mineral in all profile (dark red, red-yellow and lateritic soils). Gibbsite is a common mineral present in the upper part of the profile (dark red and redyellow soils), while in the lateritic soil occur only in the “matriz fraction. Hematite happens in the topsoils (dark red and red-yellow soils). Quartz dominates the coarse fraction in all materials and shows a higher variability in sizes, although it is predominantly fine sand-size. Anatase were also detected in the topsoil. The mineralogical composition of the materials indicates a high
degree of weathering of the parent material, wich caracteristic for oxisols in the humid tropics.

Keywords: latosols, weathering, mineral and X-ray diffraction.