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Weathering of Sodium-Potassium Mica in Soils of the Virginia Piedmont¹

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of paragonite, the Na-analogue of muscovite, in intimate association with muscovite was observed in two soils and their parent materials in the Virginia Piedmont. A relatively constant Na/K molar ratio of approximately 1 was maintained in both the parent rocks and soils. This indicated that equal molar quantities of paragonite and muscovite were present and that the weathering rates of the two micas were similar.

Vermiculite and kaolinite were the weathering products formed upon weathering of the mixed Na-K mica. The vermiculite had the same expansion and contraction characteristics as that formed from a predominantly K-mica. Consequently, the kind of weathering of muscovite and paragonite also appears to be similar.

Paragonite is believed to be of more widespread occurrence than previous work has indicated. Its possible influence on soil genesis, morphology, and classification may be significant.

¹ Contribution from the Agronomy Dept., Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg. Presented before Div. V, Soil Science Society of America, St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 29, 1961.

² Graduate Assistant and Professor of Agronomy, respectively. The senior author is now Assistant Professor of Soils, North Carolina State College, Raleigh.

Received for publication January 18, 1962. Accepted for publication May 1, 1962.