Minerals in soil environments / Минералы в почвенной среде

Minerals make up about 50% of the volume of most soils. They provide physical support for plants, and create the water- and air-filled pores that make plant growth possible. Mineral weathering releases plant nutrients that are retained by other minerals through adsorption, cation exchange, and precipitation. Minerals are indicators of the amount of weathering that has taken place, and the presence or absence of particular minerals gives clues as to how soils formed. The physical and chemical characteristics of soil minerals are important considerations in planning, constructing, and maintaining buildings, roads, and airports. The diversity of soil mineralogy and the diverse backgrounds of students studying the subject for the first time make it difficult to prepare an introduction that will serve the needs of all students. No two authors would approach the subject in exactly the same way or at exactly the same level. The approach taken in this chapter is to develop a core of concepts and terminology needed for understanding subsequent chapters.<...>