Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences

According to recent environmental crisis and drying of Urmia Lake that affecting surrounding lands, this study was conducted to evaluate the physico-chemical properties, weathering rates and evolution of soils by using various weathering indices and forms of iron in Miandoab township. Thirteen soil profiles were described on different parent material. The results showed that the studied soils were in the orders of Inceptisols and Entisols and the difference in the type of parent material, physiography and aspect were effective on the soil physicochemical characteristics. Also the results in the iron part showed that a significant portion of the iron is in crystalline form. Considering the high correlation between the two factors of weathering intensity and iron mobility index, profiles 3, 2, 8, 7 and 10 had higher evolution rates with respect to other profiles. The geochemical result showed that the geology and composition of the soil parent materials had largely affected the amount of chemical weathering. The negative correlation between Na2o, Cao and K2o and chemical index of alternation indicates weathering of the plagioclases and feldspars in this area. Also weathering indices where the ratio of immobile element to the mobile oxides is incorporated in their formula were more appropriate for estimating the weathering intensity.