Fine Sand Mineralogy of Soils Developed over Sandstone and Quartzite Schist near Umrer and Bhivapur, Maharashtra

Two pedons developed over quartzite-schist and three pedons developed over sandstone near Umrer and Bhivapur were investigated for their morphology, physicochemical characteristics and sand mineralogy. The study of fine sand fraction indicates that the minerals present in the soils aud saprolite (weathered horizon) have lot to reveal about their provenance (source rock), the weathering characteristics of the minerals and the nutrient reserves. Soils from the pedons developed over the weathered quartzite-schist consists of many heavy minerals of high ranking metamorphism viz. Sillimanite, Andalusite, Kyanite and has lower amount of unstable minerals whereas the soils from the pedons developed over sandstone is characterised by the absence of such heavy minerals of high grade metamorphism and has higher amount of biotite, an unstable mineral which upon weathering, releases considerable amount of K. Tourmaline present in abundance in both the soils is of significance due to the fact that it is a complex ortho boro silicate and upon weathering, may contribute considerable amount of boron to these soils.