Estudo e caracterização mineralógica de amostras de solos da região da Serra Dourada - GO

Abstract

Geodiversity refers to the variety of non-living elements found in the Earth’s geosphere, including rocks, minerals, soils, landforms, and geological processes. Geoconservation aims to preserve and sustainably manage geodiversity, mainly elements of exceptional scientific, educational, and aesthetic value. In Brazil, there are important conservation areas, including the Parque Estadual da Serra Dourada (PESD) (State Park of Serra Dourada). Serra Dourada plays an important role in the study of Brazil’s geomorphology, which is characterized by rocks from the Araxá, Serra da Mesa, and Serra Dourada groups. Given the importance of maintaining and preserving the PESD Conservation Unit (CU), since it holds important information, such as mineralogy, which can be investigated and contribute to the conservation and preservation of the region, this research studied and characterized three soil profiles from the region, as follows: profile V3, profile V5, and profile V8, each at two different depths. The aim of this study was to provide information on the mineral composition of these profiles and to confirm previous studies due to the importance of preserving this area. Thus, we determined particle density using Helium Gas Pycnometry, soil texture by means of Granulometric Analysis, elemental chemical composition employing X-ray Fluorescence, qualitative mineralogy using Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction, and the morphological aspects of the particles by Scanning Electron Microscopy by Field Emission Gun. According to the characterization: profile V3 contains Gibbsite, Kaolinite, Muscovite, Anatase, Goethite, Calcite and Hematite, the largest variety of minerals; profile V5 is composed of Muscovite, Kaolinite, Gibbsite, Anatase and Quartz, and has similar granulometric percentages between depths; profile V8 presented predominantly Muscovite and Quartz, which are primary minerals. Sand was the element found in its textural classification, without the presence of clay, and this was the least weathered soil among those analyzed. Finally, this study and characterization reflect the local geodiversity and the influence of the rocks of the Araxá Group in the PESD formation.