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Comparison of the mineralogical effects of an experimental forest fire on a goethite/ferrihydrite soil with a topsoil that contains hematite, maghemite and goethite

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

P. Nørnberg ,
A. L. Vendelboe ,
H. P. Gunnlaugsson ,
J. P. Merrison ,
K. Finster  and
S. K Jensen
P. Nørnberg*
Affiliation:
Mars Simulation Laboratory, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
A. L. Vendelboe
Affiliation:
Mars Simulation Laboratory, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
H. P. Gunnlaugsson
Affiliation:
Mars Simulation Laboratory, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
J. P. Merrison
Affiliation:
Mars Simulation Laboratory, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
K. Finster
Affiliation:
Mars Simulation Laboratory, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
S. K Jensen
Affiliation:
Mars Simulation Laboratory, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
*
*E-mail: geopn@phys.au.dk
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Abstract

A long-standing unresolved puzzle related to the Danish temperate humid climate is the presence of extended areas with large Fe contents, where goethite and ferrihydrite are present in the topsoil along with hematite and maghemite. Hematite and, particularly, maghemite would normally be interpreted as the result of high temperature as found after forest fires. However, a body of evidence argues against these sites having been exposed to fire. In an attempt to get closer to an explanation of this Fe mineralogy, an experimental forest fire was produced. The results showed a clear mineralogical zonation down to 10 cm depth. This was not observed at the natural sites, which contained a mixture of goethite/ferrihydrite, hematite and maghemite down to 20 cm depth. The experimental forest fire left charcoal and ashes at the topsoil, produced high pH and decreased organic matter content, all of which is in contrast to the natural sites. The conclusion from this work is that the mineralogy of these sites is not consistent with exposure to forest fire, but may instead result from long-term transformation in a reducing environment, possibly involving microbiology.

Keywords

experimental forest firegoethiteferrihydritemaghemitehematiteFe oxides
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , June 2009 , pp. 239 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2009

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