Abou EI-Hag , G.T.I( 2012). SOIL ORIGIN, MODE OF FORMATIOM AND UNIFORMITY OF THE WESTERN PART OF THE NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN AREA, EGYPTJ. Bioi. Chern. Environ. Sci. Vol. 7(4): 401-429
Abstract: The aim of this work is giving a light on the origin, mode of formation and homogeneity of the soil parent materials in the western part of the northern coastal plain area in Egypt.
Based on the visual interpretation of land sat TM image band 2,4 and 7, to obtain and identified the main physiographic units, 6 units were categorized, i.e Beach deposits, Sabakha, Ridges, Young coastal plain, old coastal plain and piedmont plain. Eight soil profiles were selected to represent the different physiographic units in the Coastal plain area (between Sedi Abd EI-Rhman and Ghazal), in order to evaluate their soil genesis, mode of formation and the degree of homogeneity. Applying the particles size distribution and their parameters (Sorting and Skewness), data clarified that, these soils are poorly to very poorly in most cases and moderately to very well sorted in the other few cases, fine to coarse skewed, this is indicating that, the studied soil sediments were transported and deposited through different environmental media, i.e., the action of water (poorly and very poorly sorted), and the action of wind or wind-water (moderately and very well sorted). With regard to the mineralogical composition of the fine sand in these soils, data indicate that, light minerals are composed mainly of Quartz (> 93 %) with few amounts of Feldspars. Heavy minerals, on the other hand, are dominated by Opaque minerals followed by amphiboles and pyroxenes, Zircon and Epidote are present in a relatively moderate amounts, while Rutile, Tourmaline, Biotite, Garnet, Staurolite and Kyanite were in few amounts beside trace of other minerals.Generally, Pyroboles minerals constitute mostly of the non-Opaque minerals. The relatively trend of heavy minerals distribution as function of profile depth indicated a narrow differences within the respective layers of soil profiles and reflected the sedimentation regime. The ratio of resistant minerals (Zr / T, Zr / Rand Zr / T + R) within the .soil profile, further confirm the homogeneity of parent materials forming most of these soils.
Keywords: (physiographic, homogeneity, environmental media, mineralogical composition, opaque minerals.)
