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Middle Devonian Acid Sulfate Paleosol: The First Finding in the Central Devonian Field (Voronezh High, Southern Russia)

  • PALEOPEDOLOGY
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Abstract

The Middle Devonian (Eifelian) paleosol (PS) recently discovered in the area of Voronezh Anteclise has been studied in detail. The PS is developed from acid volcanic rock, rhyolitic tuff. The thickness of laterally continuous PS varies from 20 to 150 cm depending on the relief of the Proterozoic basement beneath it. The tuff contains the inclusions of allochthonous coal particles most part of which is partially or completely substituted by pyrite. The main part of coal particles belongs to the remnants of nematophytes (Nematophyta and Prototaxites). The absence of rhizoliths and the microstructure of plant debris suggest that the PS developed under primitive rootless vegetation. The set of obtained analytical characteristics demonstrates that this PS is an analogue of the modern acid sulfate soils. The PS formation was the result of predominantly chemical weathering initiated by pyrite oxidation. The following pedological characteristics were noted: kaolinite formation and redistribution; tonguing soil bottom; iron mobility; formation of iron- and gypsum-containing nodules; and in situ formation of gypsum, iron oxides, and iron sulfates. Characteristic of the PS top is an increase of Al2O3 and Fe2O3; the values of Al/Ti, Ba/Sr, and K/Rb ratios; and the lateritization index. The pedogenesis had the local (focal) character without formation of distinct soil horizons.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The analytical studies were performed at the Analytical center of the Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research, Russian Academy of Sciences. The authors thank the administration and geological service of the Pavlovsk-Nerud quarry for their assistance in fieldwork.

Funding

The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project no. 22-27-00370.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow oblast, Russia

    T. V. Alekseeva & A. O. Alekseev

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Correspondence to T. V. Alekseeva.

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Translated by G. Chirikova

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Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary materials available at https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229323602469.

Fig. S1 . Mineralogical composition of the surface weathering crusts on granite boulders (XRD data) from (1) PV22-2 and (2) PV20-9 paleosol profiles: Bt, biotite; Kln, kaolinite; Qz, quartz; Fsp, feldspar; Sm, smectite; and Gp, gypsum.

Fig. S2 . Mössbauer spectra of the surface weathering crusts on granite boulders (room temperature) from (a) PV22-2 and (b) PV20-9 paleosol profiles.

Fig. S3 . Mineral transformations in the surface weathering crusts on granite boulders (SEM data): (a) dissolution of the surfaces of quartz grains with development of etch pits; (b) dissolution of feldspar; (c) booklets of secondary kaolinite; (d) development of the films containing secondary K-feldspar and Fe-oxides; (e) dissolution of feldspar and development of secondary microcrystalline K-feldspar; (f) authigenic anatase; (g) authigenic gypsum rose; (h) authigenic Fe-sulfates; (i) Tasmanites (?); and (j) spore.

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Alekseeva, T.V., Alekseev, A.O. Middle Devonian Acid Sulfate Paleosol: The First Finding in the Central Devonian Field (Voronezh High, Southern Russia). Eurasian Soil Sc. 57, 9–20 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229323602469

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