Popis: |
Summary Gustafsson et al. in a recent paper in this Journal reported the effects of adding HCl, AlCl3 and Si(OH)4 on the pH and concentrations of Al and Si in 1:1 soil:solution systems at three different temperatures, using samples of soil from an allophanic Bs horizon. Contrary to their conclusions, their observations are compatible with Al in the soil solution being in equilibrium with a proto-imogolite allophane; it is neither necessary nor even plausible to postulate a hypothetical Al hydroxide. Concentrations of 0.2–0.4 mm Si in the equilibrated solutions at pH 5 could arise from an amorphous silica, probably phytoliths. They cannot come from the allophane. |