Elemental Geochemistry of a Soil Chronosequence on Basalt on Northern Hainan Island, China

With increasing soil age, the contents of Sr, Ba and ratios of Sr/Be in soils tend to decrease, whereas the contents of V, Sc, Ni, Cr, Co and ratios of Fe/Ni and Fe/Co tend to increase, as evidenced from a study on soils of different ages, developed on basalts in the northern part of Hainan Island. Ba/Nb, significantly correlative with soil age, can be used to evaluate soil evolution. By using the mass-balance method, the element migration was discussed with Ti as an immobile element. The results showed that element leaching was most intensive in the early pedogenic period. In this period (Primosols), over 90% of Ca, Mg, K and Na was leached out of soils till Ferrosol formation. The leaching of P occurred mainly at the beginning of soil development. About 60% of Si was mobilized in the stage of Cambosol formation and 80% in the stage of Ferralosol formation.

With increasing soil age, the contents of Sr, Ba and ratios of Sr/Be in soils tend to decrease, whereas the contents of V, Sc, Ni, Cr, Co and ratios of Fe/Ni and Fe/Co tend to increase, as evidenced from a study on soils of different ages, developed on basalts in the northern part of Hainan Island. Ba/Nb, significantly correlative with soil age, can be used to evaluate soil evolution. By using the mass-balance method, the element migration was discussed with Ti as an immobile element. The results showed that element leaching was most intensive in the early pedogenic period. In this period (Primosols), over 90% of Ca, Mg, K and Na was leached out of soils tillFerrosol formation. The leaching of P occurred mainly at the beginning of soil development. About 60% of Si was mobilized in the stage ofCambosol formation and 80% in the stage ofFerralosol formation. Key words basalt - soil chronosequence - elemental geochemistry - element migration - tropical region Granted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49831004).