1 / 2017-08-03 04:34:53

Mineralogical characterization of soil samples using X-ray techniques

X-ray Fluorescence, X-ray Diffraction, Oxide

Four soil profiles situated at different agricultural zones (ENSA, CERAAS, Ndakhar Mbaye and Nioro) were chosen
and soil samples were taken from top and sub-surface layers. Soil samples Characterization was performed by different techniques such as XRD and XRF. XRF showed the chemical compositions (major and trace elements) where Al-oxide and silica are present in major quantity. XRD revealed the following soil mineralogical characteristics. Anatase and Goethite were not detected in Nioro samples. The former constituted the dominant mineral phase while the latter was quantitatively insignificant. Quartz appears to be more significant in top layers whereas Kaolinite was more abundant in sub-surface layers. This work aims to make a chemical and mineralogical characterizations of soil samples. The idea is to correlate soil minerals composition and the development
and growth of crops.