Elemental Distribution and Mineralogy of Arid Zone Soils of Punjab

In soils of dune complex, the weighted mean values of different elements were in the order: Ca > Fe > Na > K > Mg > Zn > Mo > Cu. Compared to the average values for the soils, these soils were rich in alkali and alkaline earth elements but poor in micronutrient elements. The minerals assemelage comprised feldspar, muscovite, biotite, chlorite, kaolinite and calcite in the coarse fractions. Mica, kaolinite, chlorite and vermiculite were dominant in the soil clays. The positive correlations of all elements with silt and clay contents and negative correlations with sand content indicated that the host minerals of these elements were in finer fractions. Anatase was positively correlated with Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg and Ca. Silt size feldspar had positive correlation with Cu, Zn and Mg, but other size had negative correlation with Zn, Fe, Mg and Mn.