Mineral composition of sandy fractions in podzols of Maldynyrd range (Subpolar Urals)

The mineral composition of medium-to-coarse grained and fine-grained fractions from Subpolar Urals has been studied. The importance of mineralogical-petrographical studies of soils and soil-forming sediments is underlined by insufficient information about the given area and for assessment of subsurface cryogenic weathering of minerals in the soil profile. Objects of studies were represented by two sections of illuvial-ferrous podzols formed on stone-free and cobble weathering products of quartz-sericitic and quartz-muscovite slates from the Maldynyrd Ridge. The mineral composition of sand fractions was determined by the method of optical immersion with a preliminary separation into light and heavy minerals in bromoform. It was revealed that the minerals of sandy fractions were a relatively stable component of the studied soils. The intraprofile distribution of certain mineral groups is linked to their intensive intrasoil cryogenic weathering from upper soil horizons whereby they transit from coarse to fine fractions.