Micromorphological and mineralogical properties can provide insights and
aid interpretation of soil classification.The main objective of the
study was to increase the understanding of soil classification through
evaluation of micromorphological and mineralogical properties of soils.
With a view to determining if differences in properties could be used.
Based on the geological map sheet used to identify different parent
materials, eight (8) profiles were dung and described and five distinct
soil types were identified and mapped as soil units A, B, C, D and E.
Results obtained revealed that micromorphology of surface horizon in
basaltic soils shows a porous (compound packing) and crumb
microstructure. The groundmass consists mainly of fine iron hydroxides
in crystallitic micromass. Compound coatings of radial distributed and
isotropic ("amorphous") iron hydroxides line the pores. Granitic surface
horizon was mainly crumb with vughs and channels microstructure. In
addition high clay content which complexes humus and thus reduces its
ability to move downward in the profiles. The analysis should help shed
some light on microbrafics and the work would be useful to
Micropedologists.