Abstract
Purpose
An analytical database containing XRF chemical analyses and real density measurements of unconsolidated sediments of the Padania Plain (Northern Italy) has been used to understand the relationship that exists between the soil particle density (ρs) and their bulk chemical composition.
Materials and methods
Using a linear regression, we built an equation able to link the particle density with the soil elemental composition.
Results and discussion
Positive correlations were found between ρs and SiO2, MgO, CaO and Na2O and negative correlations with K2O, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and LOI, reflecting the presence in the soils of quartz and feldspars/mineral clays respectively.
Conclusions
Our equation is very useful because it helps to know the density properties of a soil when it is not possible to measure ρs with a pycnometer. On the other hand, by knowing the ρs, it is possible to have a quite precise knowledge about the chemistry of the studied soils.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Amorosi A (2012) Chromium and nickel as indicators of source-to-sink sediment transfer in a Holocene alluvial and coastal system (Po Plain, Italy). Sediment Geol 280:260–269
Amorosi A, Centineo MC, Dinelli E, Lucchini F, Tateo F (2002) Geochemical and mineralogical variations as indicators of provenance changes in Late Quaternary deposits of SE Po Plain. Sediment Geol 151:273–292
Amorosi A, Farina M, Severi P, Preti D, Caporale L, Di Dio G (1996) Genetically related alluvial deposits across active fault zones: an example of alluvial fan-terrace correlation from the upper Quaternary of the southern Po Basin, Italy. Sediment Geol 102:275–295
Bianchini G, Natali C, Di Giuseppe D, Beccaluva L (2012) Heavy metals in soils and sedimentary deposits of the Padanian Plain (Ferrara, Northern Italy): characterisation and biomonitoring. J Soils Sediments 12:1145–1153
Bianchini G, Di Giuseppe D, Natali C, Beccaluva L (2013) Ophiolite inheritance in the Po Plain sediments: insights on heavy metals distribution and risk assessment. Ofioliti 38:1–14
Bianchini G, Cremonini S, Di Giuseppe D, Vianello G, Vittori Antisari L (2014) Multiproxy investigation of a Holocene sedimentary sequence near Ferrara (Italy): clues on the physiographic evolution of the eastern Padanian Plain. J Soils Sediments 14:230–242
Blake GR, Hartge KH (1986) Particle Density. In: Klute A (ed) Methods of soil analysis, part 1, 2nd edn. Agron. Monogr. 9 ASA and SSA, Madison, pp 377–381
Blake GR (2008) Particle Density. In: Chesworth W (ed) Encyclopedia of soil science. Springer, Netherlands, pp 504–505
Colombani N, Mastrocicco M, Di Giuseppe D, Faccini B, Coltorti M (2014) Variation of the hydraulic properties and solute transport mechanisms in a silty-clay soil amended with natural zeolites. Catena 123:195–204
Curzi PV, Dinelli E, Ricci Lucchi M, Vaiani SC (2006) Palaeoenvironmental control on sediment composition and provenance in the Quaternary deltaic successions. Geol J 41:591–612
Di Giuseppe D, Tessari U, Faccini B, Caltorti M (2014a) The use of particle density in sedimentary provenance studies: the superficial sediment of Po Plain (Italy) case study. Geosci J 18:449–458
Di Giuseppe D, Bianchini G, Faccini B, Coltorti M (2014b) Combination of wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis and multivariate statistic for alluvial soils classification: a case study from the Padanian Plain (Northern Italy). X-Ray Spectrom 43:165–174
Dinelli E, Summa V, Tateo F (2007) Geochemical and mineralogical proxies for grain size in mudstones and siltstones from the Pleistocene and Holocene of the Po River alluvial plain, Italy. Spec Paper Geol Soc Am 420:25–36
Facchinelli A, Sacchi E, Mallen L (2001) Multivariate statistical and GIS approach to identify heavy metal sources in soils. Environ Pollut 114:313–324
Garzanti E, Vezzoli G, Andò S (2011) Paleogeographic and paleodrainage changes during Pleistocene glaciations (Po Plain, Northern Italy). Earth Sci Rev 105:25–48
Malferrari D, Laurora A, Brigatti MF, Coltorti M, Di Giuseppe D, Faccini B, Passaglia E, Vezzalini MG (2013) Openfield experimentation of an innovative and integrated zeolitite cycle: project definition and material characterization. Rend Lincei-Sci Fis 24:141–150
Rühlmann J, Körschens M, Graefe J (2006) A new approach to calculate the particle density of soils considering properties of the soil organic matter and the mineral matrix. Geoderma 130:272–283
Skopp JM (2000) Physical properties of primary particles. In: Summer ME (ed) Handbook of soil science. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp A3–A17
Stefani M, Vincenzi S (2005) The interplay of eustasy, climate and human activity in the late Quaternary depositional evolution and sedimentary architecture of the Po Delta system. Mar Geol 222–223:19–48
Toscani G, Burrato P, Di Bucci D, Seno S, Valensise G (2008) Plio-Quaternary tectonic evolution of the Northern Apennines thrust fronts (Bologna-Ferrara section, Italy): seismotectonic implications. Boll Soc Geol Ital 128:605–613
Ungaro F, Ragazzi F, Cappelin R, Giandon P (2008) Arsenic concentration in the soils of the Brenta Plain (Northern Italy): mapping the probability of exceeding contamination thresholds. J Geochem Explor 96:117–131
Wentworth CK (1922) A scale of grade and glass terms for clastic sediments. J Geol 30:377–392
Wolman MG, Leopold LB (1957) River flood plains: some observations on their formation. United States Government printing office, Washington
Acknowledgments
This work has been financially supported by EC LIFE+ funding ZeoLIFE project (LIFE+10 ENV/IT/000321). We thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments that improved the first version of the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Fabio Scarciglia
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Additional file 1
(DOCX 434 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Di Giuseppe, D., Melchiorre, M., Tessari, U. et al. Relationship between particle density and soil bulk chemical composition. J Soils Sediments 16, 909–915 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1275-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1275-3