Mineralogy and Micromorphology Characteristic of Vertisol Lying on Limestone Parent Rocks at Jeneponto District of South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Abstract

The objective of this is paper is to determine the mineralogy and micromorphology characteristics of vertisol in the limestone parent rock at Jeneponto district of South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The pedons represent deposits of volcanoes basalt. The study consisted of field and laboratory research. Field research comprises of soil profile descriptions and soil sampling, while laboratory analysis consists of clay minerals analysis using X-rays, as well as sand and rock mineral. Micromorphology analysis undisturbed soil samples were taken from identifiable horizon for thin section preparation. X-ray analysis revealed that clay minerals of the vertisol mainly consists of montmorillonite group. While the mineral composition of parent rock (limestone) generally consists of foraminifera fossil, calcite, dolomite, clay minerals, orthoclase, opaque minerals and quartz. The mineralogy of sand fraction generally consists of easily weathered minerals like pyroxene, feldspar, hornblende, plagioclase, biotite and hard weathered mineral (quartz and opaque). Soil micromorphology analysis revealed that raw material, in general is dominated by coarse material which is consist of quartz mineral mixed with other minerals such as pyroxene and plagioclase. On the other hand, organic coarse-sized components are not found and the microstructure of the soil is generally in the loose form (massive), and the type of soil pore vary from vugh to channels pore.