Paleosols and Weathering Crusts of the Middle-Late Devonian in the Mikhailovskii Quarry (Kursk Magnetic Anomaly)

Abstract

Devonian deposits in the Mikhailovskii Mining and Processing Plant quarry comprising weathering crusts and paleosols have been studied. Comparative analysis of the morphological, geochemical, and mineralogical properties of paleosols and weathering crusts allows revealing differences primarily due to biotic processes in soils and vital activity of plants and microorganisms. The presence of root systems, plant imprints, spore diversity, and horizontal profile manifested in the formation of humus-accumulative horizon, the profile differentiation of clay minerals, and the profile distribution of geochemical indices and ratios are key characteristics classifying the objects of study as paleosols.