Referencing :

Stoops, G., 1998. Key to the ISSS "Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description". Natuurwet. Tijdschr. 78 : 193-203.
KEY TO THE ISSS
"HANDBOOK FOR SOIL THIN SECTION DESCRIPTION"
* Prof. dr. G. Stoops, Laboratorium voor Mineralogie, Petrologie en Micropedologie, Geologisch Instituut, Universiteit Gent, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
ABSTRACT
A series of keys is proposed to be used in combination with the "Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description" published in 1985 by Bullock, Fedoro!, Jongerius, Stoops and Tursina. Keys are given for following items : voids, microstructures, c/f-related distributions, pedofeatures, morphological types of pedofeatures, coatings (including hypo-coatings and quasi-coatings), inllings, intercallations, nodules, b-fabrics and organic matter. It is hoped that the use of these keys will result in more objective and reproducible descriptions of thin sections of earthy materials.
SAMENVATTING. - Sleutels bij het "Handbook for Thin Section Description" van de Internationale Bodemkundige Vereniging.
Deze bijdrage stelt een serie sleutels voor om te gebruiken samen met het "Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description" in 1985 gepubliceerd door Bullock, Fedoro!, Jongerius, Stoops and Tursina. Sleutels worden voorgesteld voor volgende onderwerpen : pori n, microstructuren g/f relationele verdelingen, pedokenmerken, morfologische typen van pedokenmerken, huidjes (met inbegrip van hypo- en quasihuidjes), opvullingen, tussenvoegsels, nodulen, b-maaksels, en organisch materiaal. De hoop wordt uitgesproken dat het gebruik van deze sleutels zal bijdragen tot meer objectieve en reproduceerbare beschrijvingen van slijpplatjes van aardeachtige materialen.
1. INTRODUCTION
In 1985 the "Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description" by Bullock et al. was published, as a result of many years of discussions by an international panel of micromorphologists. The book was highly appreciated by the micromorphological community, as it helped solving several problems of description, inherent to the then existing systems. It got widely used, both for scientic research and as a teaching aid, especially in Europe.
As we started teaching the concepts and terminology of the "Handbook" at the International Training Centre for Post-Graduate Soil Scientists (University of Gent) before its actual publication, experience of about fteen years was built up. It taught us that not all concepts are as user-friendly as the authors had hoped, especially in those cases were the distinction between features is partly based on a common experience, existing without doubt amongst the authors, but which cannot be expected from beginners.
Some of these problems are created by the fact that the "Handbook" is partly based on an "atlas" or "pigeonhole" principle, rather than on one with mutually exclusive concepts. As a result, the authors of the "Handbook" sometimes had di"culty dening "common" types of features (e.g. typic nodules, typic coatings), whereas it was much easier to dene special cases (e.g. crescent coatings, concentric nodules). It was therefore inevitable that some less clear concepts appeared (Stoops and Tursina 1990). We think that some of the problems can be overcome by using a simple key, as is done in botany and in "Soil Taxonomy" (Soil Survey Sta! 1975). The introduction of a key will probably not enhance the scientic level of the system, but surely will contribute to a higher reproducibility in its application.
In some instances the proposed scheme may not seem logical. To make the scheme logical would require several mayor changes to several concepts of the "Handbook" which is not the aim of this paper. Small changes and additions however could not be avoided. New terms or concepts, or changes in denitions with regard to the "Handbook" are marked with an .
The key is not meant as an alternative to the "Handbook", but rather a supplement. In some cases denitions of the "Handbook" are repeated for sake of clearness. We moreover think the system of the key can be used as a rational to develop suitable data bases for micromorphological descriptions and interactive audio-visual learning systems.
The key is also not meant as a way to make soil thin section descriptions, but as an instrument to help identication. It could be compared to a "ora" used in phyto-sociological survey.
In the key the words "only" and "not" are not understood in an absolute way, as exceptional cases can not be taken into account.
2. THE KEY
2.1. Voids
Porosity in the soil forms, except in a few cases, such as vesicles, a continuum. As this is practically impossible to describe, Brewer (1964) classied voids according to their morphology, considering them as individuals. His typology was taken over by Bullock et al. (1985) with some small adaptations. Recently Moran et al. (1988) coined the term "poroids" to indicate the image of pores in a thin section, referring thus to a two-dimensional unit. This term will be also used in this key, as it is very important not to confuse 2-D and 3-D shape descriptions. As di!erent types of voids may show similar poroids in thin sections, this means that a same item keys out several times.
Voids between ner constituents, e.g. clay particles, are beyond the resolution of the combination optical microscope/thin section and therefore not taken into account.
KEY TO VOIDS
1. Poroids with a circular shape
1.1. Circular poroids with very regular smooth walls, often occurring in groups, but not interconnected, frequently with a subhorizontal distribution, and probably derived from spheres in 3-D : vesicles
1.2. Other circular poroids, probably derived by cutting a tubular 3-D shape normal to its axis : channels
2. Poroids with elliptical shape, probably derived by cutting a tubular 3-D shape at an angle to its axis : channels
3. Poroids with elongate shape, with approximately parallel sides :
3.1. Elongate poroids with smooth walls and rounded ends, often curved, derived by cutting a tubular 3-D shape at an acute angle to its axis : channels
3.2. Other elongate poroids, with sharp, pointed ends, often intersecting and with approximately accommodating opposite edges and derived from sheet-like structures in 3-D : planes
4.Irregular shaped poroids
4.1. Irregularly shaped poroids between random packed constituents, which connect to a greater or lesser degree in 2-D : packing voids
4.1.1. packing voids between (coarser) basic constituents only :
simple packing voids
4.1.2. other packing voids between aggregates only :
compound packing voids
4.1.3. other packing voids :
complex packing voids
4.2. Irregularly shaped poroids which do not interconnect in 2-D and probably do not in 3-D.
4.2.1. Non-connecting *, irregular poroids which are roughly equant and have smooth walls, often altered by soil fauna :
chambers
4.2.2. Non-connecting *, irregular poroids which are roughly polygonal (mostly triangular or rectangular) with concave walls occurring between welded aggregates
star-like vughs
4.2.3. Other non-connecting*, irregular poroids
vughs * non-connecting, except for small desiccation planes due to preparation.
2.2. Microstructure
The chapter on microstructure is generally considered as a rather weak point in the "Handbook". Only a non-exhaustive list of types is given, without any grouping. Levels of structure are not taken into account. Modications are therefore necessary in order to t the microstructures into a key.
In a same soil material, di!erent levels of structure and microstructure can exist. Some prisms, for example, can display an angular blocky structure, which peds have in turn a ner angular blocky structure, whereas the intrapedal microstructure is dominated by channels. Moreover it is common to observe that on a same level two or more microstructures are juxtaposed, e.g. channels and cracks. Sandy materials occupy a special place amongst microstructures, as these are determined by the related arrangement of the basic units : sand grains, ne material and associated voids. The resulting porosity is called "inherent microporosity" (Stoops, 1994). This level is related to the c/f related distribution patterns (see also 2.2.) Taking into account the above mentioned characteristics, the list of microstructures mentioned in the "Handbook" could be organised and reduced.
KEY TO NATURAL MICROSTRUCTURES
1. Microstructures with planar voids (dening to a greater or lesser extend peds whose faces are generally accommodating) :
1.1. planar voids are well interconnected to form discrete peds completely surrounded by void :
1.1.1. peds have a vertical dimension considerably smaller than the horizontal :
1.1.1.1. peds have an elliptical shape :
well-developed lenticular micro structure
1.1.1.2. others :
well-developed platy microstructure
1.1.2. peds are approximately equant and have at faces and angular vertices :
well-developed angular blocky microstructure
1.1.3. other approximately equant peds :
well-developed sub-angular blocky microstructure
1.2. Planar voids are less well interconnected so that peds are about two third surrounded by void, but are nevertheless discernible :
1.2.1. peds have a vertical dimension considerably smaller than the horizontal :
1.2.1.1. peds have an elliptical shape :
moderately-developed lenticular micro structure
1.2.1.2. others :
moderately-developed platy microstructure
1.2.2. peds are approximately equant and have at faces and angular vertices :
moderately-developed angular blocky microstructure
1.2.3. other approximately equant peds :
moderately-developed sub-angular blocky microstructure
1.3. Planar voids are rarely interconnected so that peds are only a third surrounded be voids and are di"cult to discern :
1.3.1. peds have a vertical dimension considerably smaller than the horizontal :
weakly-developed platy microstructure
1.3.2. peds are approximately equant and have at faces and angular vertices :
weakly-developed angular blocky microstructure
1.3.3. other approximately equant peds :
weakly-developed sub-angular blocky microstructure
1.4. Planar voids are few and do not interconnect so that no peds are discernible : ssure microstructure
2. Microstructures with compound packing voids or star-like vughs dening to a greater or lesser extent peds which are larger than the coarse particles present, consist of an aggregation of smaller particles and have not accommodating faces :
2.1. microstructure with compound packing voids which are well interconnected to form discrete aggregates completely surrounded by void :
2.1.1. aggregates are porous and often have a rugose outline and may consist of smaller aggregates welded together :
well-developed crumb microstructure
2.1.2. aggregates are not porous or composed of smaller aggregates :
well-developed granular microstructure
2.2. microstructure with compound packing voids which are less well interconnected so that aggregates are about two third surrounded by void, but are nevertheless readily discernible :
2.2.1. aggregates are porous and often have a rugose outline and may consist of smaller aggregates welded together :
moderately-developed crumb microstructure
2.2.2. aggregates are not porous or composed of smaller aggregates :
moderately-developed granular microstructure
2.3. microstructure with star-like vughs or compound packing voids which are poorly interconnected so that aggregates are about one third surrounded by void, and di"cult to discern :
2.3.1. aggregates are porous and often have a rugose outline and may consist of smaller aggregates welded together :
weakly-developed crumb microstructure
2.3.2. aggregates are not porous or composed of smaller aggregates :
weakly-developed granular microstructure
3. Apedal microstructures without inherent microporosity :
3.1. Soil materials without visible voids : massive microstructure
3.2. Microstructures characterized by the dominance of one of the following void types :
3.2.1. Microstructures characterized by the dominance of vesicles :
vesicular microstructure
3.2.2. Microstructures characterized by the dominance of channels :
channel microstructure
3.2.3. Microstructures characterized by the dominance of chambers :
chamber microstructure
3.2.4. Microstructures characterized by the dominance of vughs
3.2.4.1. microstructures with common vughs which are su"ciently interconnected to break the continuity of the solid, but where aggregates are not discernible :
spongy microstructure
3.2.4.2. microstructure with frequent vughs which are not interconnected to break the continuity of the solid, but where aggregates are not discernible :
vughy microstructure
4. Microstructures with inherent porosity composed of simple or complex packing voids dened to a greater or lesser extend by the coarse (generally sand-sized) particles present and sometimes aggregates of a similar or smaller size, consisting of ner particles :
4.1. Solid material consists predominantly of coarse particles (sand); structural units are individual, coarse particles and simple packing voids occurring between individual particles :
4.1.1. Microstructures consisting almost entirely of sand sized grains :
single grain microstructure
or, monic c/f related distribution
4.1.2. Microstructures in which there are frequent bridges of ner material between the sand-sized grains :
bridged grain microstructure
or, gefuric c/f related distribution
4.1.3. Microstructures in which the sand-sized grains are mostly coated with ner material :
pellicular grain microstructure
or, chitonic c/f related distribution
4.2. Microstructures in which the solid units are a mixture of single particles (sand grains) and small aggregates of ner material, all separated by and dening complex packing voids : intergrain microaggregate microstructure
enaulic c/f related distribution
In the case of pedal microstructures (1 or 2), it is necessary to determine also the intrapedal microstructure. Combinations of several types of apedal microstructures (type 3). are common; therefore it is necessary to scan the key 3 rst for the dominant type, and a second time for the less dominant type.
Several microstructures listed in the "Handbook" (e.g. intergrain vesicular pore structure) have been omitted as they are considered to be merely combinations of other types.
2.3. C/f related distributions
Denition : the c/f related distribution expresses the distribution of individual particles in relation to ner material and associated voids not included in the particles (Stoops & Jongerius, 1975)
KEY TO C/F-RELATED DISTRIBUTIONS
1. only non-accommodating constituents larger than a postulated size limit are present : coarse monic
2. only constituents smaller than a postulated size limit are present : ne monic
3. the ner material lls all interstitial spaces between the coarser constituents : porphyric
3.1. the coarser constituents have points of contact (not necessary visible in the plane of the section) : close porphyric
3.2. the coarser constituents do not tough each other, and their distance is
3.2.1. less than their mean diameter :
single spaced porphyric
3.2.2. more than once, but maximum twice the mean diameter :
double spaced porphyric
3.2.3. more than twice the mean diameter :
open porphyric
4. both ner and coarser components and associated voids are present :
4.1. the ner material occurs as distinct aggregates in the intergranular spaces between the coarser components : enaulic
4.2. the ner material occurs only as coatings surrounding wholly or partially the coarser components : chitonic
4.3. the ner material occurs both as coatings surrounding wholly or partially the coarser constituents and as concave bridges linking the coarser constituents : chito-gefuric
4.4. the ner material occurs only as bridges linking the coarser constituents : gefuric
4.4.1. the bridges are concave :
concave gefuric
4.4.2. the bridges are convex :
convex gefuric
5. others : complex intergrades
(indicate them). Note : for intergrades and mixtures of c/f-related distributions use the terminology as proposed by Stoops and Jongerius (1975).
2.4. Groundmass and pedofeatures
2.4.1. DEFINITION
Groundmass is a general term used for the coarse and ne material which forms the base material of the soil, other than that in pedofeatures (Bullock et al. 1985).
Pedofeatures are discrete fabric units present in soil materials recognizable from an adjacent material by a di!erence in concentration in one or more components, e.g. a granulometric fraction, organic matter, crystals, chemical components, or by a di!erence in internal fabric; birefringence fabrics are excluded. By denition pedofeatures are larger than 20 m.
2.4.2. PEDOFEATURES
2.4.2.1. Genetic classication
Key as proposed in the "Handbook"
2.4.2.2. Morphological classication
The following subdivision in matrix and intrusive pedofeatures is not given in the "Handbook". It has been added by the author as experience has shown that in descriptions, and especially in interpretation, this distinction is most important.
Based on their relation to the groundmass, ve types can be distinguished, and based on their morphology seven types and many subtypes :
KEY TO PEDOFEATURES
1. pedofeature still presenting the general characteristics of the groundmass, mostly, but not always, with a gradual transition to the groundmass : matrix pedofeatures
Three subtypes are distinguished :
1.1. matrix pedofeatures recognizable because of a lower concentration of one or more components : depletion pedofeatures
1.2. other matrix pedofeatures recognizable because of a higher concentration of one or more components : impregnative pedofeatures
1.3. other matrix pedofeatures recognizable only because of a di!erent fabric, (with exclusion of b-fabrics) : fabric pedofeatures
2. pedofeatures non enclosing the groundmass, formed either in voids, or in the groundmass by accretion : intrusive pedofeatures
Notes :
not all impregnative features are pedofeatures, e.g. impregnative nodules may be inherited from the parent material (e.g. transported nodules). They are generally recognizable because the groundmass, to which the impregnation is superimposed, is di!erent from the actual groundmass of the soil (e.g. coarse material shows a di!erence in nature, shape, size, proportions, sorting).
Only for intrusive pedofeatures a quantication (in volume %) can make sense for mineralogical or chemical calculations.
2.4.2.3. Morphological classication of pedofeatures as related to their fabric
According to their morphology, crystallinity and referred distribution pattern, a number of types may be distinguished.
KEY TO MORPHOLOGICAL TYPES OF PEDOFEATURES
1. Matrix pedofeatures
1.1. associated with the surface of peds, voids or constituents and occurring immediately at that surface : hypo-coatings
1.2. other matrix pedofeatures related to surfaces but occurring at some distance from the surface : quasi-coatings
1.3. other strongly elongated or undulating matrix pedofeatures unrelated to surfaces : intercalations
1.4. other matrix pedofeatures unrelated to surfaces : matrix nodules
2. Intrusive pedofeatures
2.1. associated to surfaces of peds (*), voids (but lling them for < 90 %) or constituents : coatings
2.2. other intrusive features lling voids totally or partially : inllings
2.3. other intrusive pedofeatures unrelated to surfaces and voids, consisting of euhedral or subhedral single crystals or crystal intergrowths of pedogenic origin : crystals and crystal intergrowths
2.4. other strongly elongated and undulating intrusive pedofeatures unrelated to surfaces and voids : intercalations
2.5. other intrusive pedofeatures unrelated to surfaces and voids : nodules (*) ped surfaces have priority over void surfaces.
If not recognized as such, fragments of pedofeatures will automatically key out as nodules; deformed pedofeatures may key out either as intercalations or as nodules.
2.4.2.4. Coatings, hypocoatings and quasicoatings
Although only the term coating will be used, this key serves also for hypo- and quasi-coatings. Seven main subtypes are distinguished based on type of surface a!ected and arrangement.
KEY TO COATINGS, HYPO-COATINGS and QUASI-COATINGS
1. discontinuous (sub)horizontal thick (more than some mm) coatings at the surface of the soil : crusts
2. other continuous (sub)horizontal coatings but in the soil and less than 2 mm thick : internal crust
3. other coatings on top (if undisturbed) of larger constituents or peds, and linking them : link cappings
4. other coatings as above, but not interlinking the coarser constituents or peds : cappings
5. other coatings (mainly of calcite, gypsum or soluble salt) present below (if undisturbed) a larger soil constituent : pendants
6. other coating (mainly textural) in voids becoming considerably thicker at one side of the pore and showing there a crescentlike internal fabric : crescent coatings
7. other coatings : typic coatings
2.4.2.5. Inllings
The denitions in the "Handbook" do not take into account inllings by gefuric or chitonic-gefuric material. Therefore the key does not match completely the denitions of the Handbook. Four main types are distinguished based on fabric and homogeneity.
KEY TO INFILLINGS
1. the lling material has either a coarse monic, enaulic or loose chitonic c/f r.d., or consists of non-accommodating peds (especially granules or crumbs), and is homogeneously distributed in the void : loose continuous inlling
2. other inllings of the same type, but with some voids considerably larger than the expected packing voids : loose discontinuous inlling
3. other inlling lling the void completely (including gefuric and chitonic-gefuric materials) : dense complete inlling
4. others inllings : dense incomplete inllings Note : the inlling material may consist of other pedofeatures, e.g. excrements, crystals, overdeveloped coatings, which have to be described as such.
2.4.2.6. Crystals and crystal intergrowths
The "Handbook" does not propose subdivisions.
2.4.2.7. Intercalations
Three subtypes of intercalations are distinguished based on their external shape. This concept is not well developed in the "Handbook"
KEY TO INTERCALATIONS
1. intercalations consisting of one single strand : simple intercalations
2. other intercalations consisting of interwoven strands : interlaced intercalations
3. other intercalations : serrated intercalations
2.4.2.8. Nodules
Nodules are subdivided according to their internal fabric. The list presented in the key is not identical to that in the "Handbook" : halo's have been deleted, as they belong to a di!erent level, and moreover overlap with hypo-coatings, and aggregate nodules have been added, as we consider them rather as a type of internal fabric than as an external morphology, as suggested in the "Handbook".
KEY TO NODULES
1. nodules with a hollow interior (generally lined by euhedral crystals) : geodic nodule
2. other nodules build around a foreign core : nucleic nodules
3. other nodules showing a radial pattern of cracks : septaric nodule
4. other nodules composed of several (sub)rounded entities : aggregate nodules
5. other nodules with concentric internal fabric consisting of more than one ring : concentric nodules
6. other nodules with an internal fabric pointing to a pseudomorph : pseudomorphic nodules
7. other nodules : typic nodules
(check for excrements)
Combinations of characteristics are possible : e.g. nucleic nodules are often also concentric.
Excrements may key out as nodules, but should be distinguished from the latter.
2.4.2.9. Excrements
Excrements take a very special position amongst the pedofeatures, as they belong often to di!erent levels : they can occur already on the level of microstructure (e.g. granular), of groundmass (e.g. in a vermic material), as fabric pedofeatures or as material forming inllings or even coatings. This di"culty was already mentioned in the "Handbook". It was therefore not possible to incorporate them in a key.
2.4.3. GROUNDMASS
2.4.3.1. Introduction
The material left after identication of the pedofeatures is described as groundmass. Its characterization comprises the description of the coarse material (including mineral grains, rock fragments, transported nodules, etc.), the ne material and the fabric. The distinction between nodules, considered as pedofeatures, and nodular bodies, considered to be of detrital origin, and thus described as coarse material, depends upon the experience of the scientist. Only the fabric of the micromass, the b-fabric is presented here.
2.4.3.2. The b-fabrics.
Denition : The b-fabric describes the fabric of the ne material (micromass) of the groundmass as deduced from the pattern of interference colors when observed between crossed polarizers. The b-fabrics are excluded from the pedofeatures as only a few of them (within striated types) could t in the denition of pedofeatures. Following types are distinguished, using an objective of at least 6.3 and conoscopic illumination on thin sections of 30 m or thinner.
KEY TO THE B-FABRICS
1. no interference colors are visible : undi!erentiated b-fabric
2. the interference colors are due to the presence of joining or overlapping crystallites (e.g. of calcite) or very small mineral fragments (e.g. sericite) : crystallitic b-fabric
(Patterns of the arrangement of the crystallites can be described using the terms given for striated b-fabrics. If crystals are not in contact and larger areas of clay are visible between, an intergrade with one of the following types may be described)
3. the micromass exhibits as a whole a preferred parallel orientation (simultaneous extinction or appearance of interference colors) : strial b-fabric
3.1. there is one preferred direction : unistrial b-fabric
3.2. there are two preferred directions : bistrial b-fabric
4 the micromass exhibits elongated zones or streaks (so called striations) more than 30 mm long, composed of parallel oriented prolate domains showing more or less simultaneous interference colors : striated b-fabric *
4.1. the striations are arranged parallel to surface of voids : porostriated b-fabric
4.2. the striations are arranged parallel to the surface of grains or other hard bodies : granostriated b-fabric
4.3. the striations are arranged as concentric rings : concentric striated b-fabric
4.4. the striations are arranged in the form of more or less circular features : circular striated b-fabric
4.5. the striations form elongated worm-like features with a crescent-like internal fabric : crescent striated b-fabric
4.6. the striations occur as isolated and interdependent streaks : monostriated b-fabric
4.7. the striations occur as parallel or subparallel sets which do not intersect : parallel striated b-fabric
4.8. the striations occur as two parallel or subparallel sets which intersect : cross striated b-fabric
4.9. other arrangements of striations : random striated b-fabric
5. the striations are smaller than 30 m, randomly oriented and
5.1. are in contact which each other, forming a mosaic-like pattern : mosaic speckled b-fabric
5.2. are isolated : stipple speckled b-fabric * More than one striated type can be present; therefore return to the key after identication of the dominant type. Complex types are described by enumerating the observed types, putting the most dominant at the end. E.g. random-grano-porostriated means that random striated is the less pronounced type, poro striated the most developed one.
Note : compared to the "Handbook" following alterations have been made : a minimum size of 30 m was introduced in order to distinguish striated from speckled b-fabrics; reticulate striated b-fabrics were deleted and incorporated in the cross-striated type, as the angle of intersection is a function of the relative orientation of the section.
2.4. Organic matter
KEY TO ORGANIC MATTER
1. organic fragment composed of more than 5 connecting cells,
1.1. belonging to more than one tissue type : organ residue
(specify type of organ);
1.2. other, composed of only one type of tissue : tissue residue
(specify type of tissue)
2. other organic fragments composed of groups of 5 or less interconnected cells or individual cells : cells
3. other areas of holo-organic matter without recognizable cell structure : amorphous organic ne material.
3.1. amorphous organic ne material of uniform colloidal texture, with less than 5% inclusion of coarser organic elements, showing desiccation cracks in sections of air dried material : monomorphic material
3.2. other amorphous organic ne material with more than 5 % coarser organic elements included : polymorphic
4. other organic material occurring as very dark or opaque grains of about 1 m in the inorganic micromass : punctuations
5. other organic material staining the inorganic micromass : organic pigment
3. CONCLUSIONS
The above proposed keys summarise the most important classication schemes of the "Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description" (Bullock et al. 1985). The keys have been set up in such a way that the more specic, or genetic important features key out earlier than the more general or less diagnostic. It is hoped that, using the keys, more objective and reproducible descriptions of thin sections can be produced. Moreover the keys are a rst step to a more systematic approximation to the classication of microfabrics, as needed for data bases, image analysis and interactive programmes for self study.
4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This paper was rst presented at the 10th International Working Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Moscow 1996. The author wants to acknowledge the comments and encouragements of many colleagues. Especially the written comments on the manuscript by Dr. J. Arocena (University of British Columbia, Canada), Dr. Nettleton, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Prof. T.L. White (Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada), are acknowledged
Special thanks go to Dr. A. Ringrose-Voase (CSIRO, Australia) for his substantial contribution to the key for voids and microstructures.
5. REFERENCES
BREWER, R., 1964. Fabric and Mineral Analysis of Soils. J. Wiley & Sons, London-New York-Sydney, 470 p.
BULLOCK, P., FEDOROFF, N., JONGERIUS, A., STOOPS, G., TURSINA, T. and BABEL, U., 1985. Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description. Waine Research Publications, 152 p.
643- 655.
MORAN, C.J., KOPPI, A.J., MURPHY, B.W. and MCBRATNEY, A.B., 1988. Comparison of the macropore structure of a sandy loam surface horizon subjected to two tillage treatments. Soil Use Manage. 4, 96-102.
SOIL SURVEY STAFF, 1975. Soil Taxonomy. A Basic System for Soil Classication for Making and Interpreting Soil Surveys. Agric. Handbook, 436, 754p.
STOOPS, G. & JONGERIUS, A., 1975. Proposal for a micromorphological classication of soil materials. I. A classication of the related distributions of ne and coarse particles. Geoderma, 13, 189-199.
STOOPS, G. and TURSINA, T., 1992. New Methodology for Soil Thin Section Description. Pochvovedenye 5 :117-121.
STOOPS, G., 1994. Soil thin section description : higher levels of classication of microfabrics as a tool for interpretations. In : Ringrose-Voase and Humphreys (eds), Soil Micromorphology : studies in management and genesis, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 317-325.
(Received 5 January 1998)
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