Mineralogía de arcillas y limos en algunos suelos volcánicos de Tenerife (Islas Canarias)

Abstract

The mineralogical composition of the clay and silt fractions from volcanic materials has been studied in some soils from Tenerife (Canary Islands). The identification has been carried out by X-ray, infrared absorption and electron microscope techniques. In the clay fraction the following minerals were found: allophane, kaolinitic materials (mainly halloysite), micaceous minerals and sometimes montmorillonites, chlorite and interstratified materials. As accesories, quartz, feldspar and α-cristobalite. In the silt fraction were found: quartz, feldspar, kaolinitic and micaceous materials and sometimes haematites and amphiboles.

The general conclusions were that the clays from the north of Tenerife were more weathered and had greater proportion of montmorillonites and interstratified minerals.