Abstract
The various iron fractions were quantified by selective dissolution (Fed, Feo, Fet) in four Red Mediterranean soils, developed on metarhyolite and metadolerite. They were similar in all profiles. A strong trend of iron removal from the surface horizon and of its subsequent illuvial translocation to the argillic horizons was observed. In all profiles, Feo was not related to the organic matter content indicating the Mediterranean xeric soil environment. The Feo/Fed ratio and the percentage of crystalline iron oxides (Fed-Feo) suggested that the pedoenvironment in which the profiles P1, P2 were formed, allowed the high crystallization of iron oxides. As indicated by the Fed/Fet values, the weathering process was more intense in the metarhyolite-developed soils. In contrast, the metadolerite-developed soils present conditions of poorly crystallized iron oxides and a lower degree of development.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (I.K.Y.) for the financial support to P. Tsaousidou.