10-6 Mineral Weathering and Possible Metal Mobility in Upland Temperate Soils at Gobble Mountains, Massachusetts

Session: Geochemistry and Mineralogy (Posters)

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Abstract:

Elevation and soil depth often exert strong controls on soil geochemistry, mineralogy, and associated biogeochemical processes (Che et al., 2021; Tian et al., 2021; Solano-Arguedas et al., 2022; Song et al., 2022); however, integrated studies linking these factors in upland temperate systems remain limited. Gobble Mountain (GM), a steep, rocky Nature Conservancy preserve in western Hampden County, Massachusetts, spans >1000 ft of relief and is underlain primarily by pelitic rocks of the metamorphosed Rowe Schist, with localized ultramafic slivers. Despite its prominence in the landscape, GM has not been the subject of modern, systematic geochemical investigation. This study characterizes the mineralogical and geochemical structure of soils, clasts, and float at GM to evaluate mineral weatherability, metal mobility, and implications for soil habitability and elemental cycling.

Mineralogy was assessed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and paired with Fourier-Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify organic bonds in soils, while soil chemistry was quantified using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). Soil pH and soil organic carbon (SOC) were measured to contextualize mineral-metal interactions within physicochemical constraints relevant to biological activity. Sequential chemical extractions are currently underway to address metal partitioning among exchangeable, adsorbed, and Fe-oxide-associated pools.

Preliminary XRD and FTIR results indicate silicate-dominated assemblages across soils and clasts, with FTIR Si-O, Al-O, and Fe-O vibrations corroborating XRD-identified phases. In contrast, float samples uniquely preserve resistant oxide minerals, including magnetite and spinel, suggesting differential preservation of minerals during weathering. Preliminary XRD and FTIR results indicate silicate-dominated assemblages across soils and clasts, with FTIR Si-O, Al-O, and Fe-O vibrations corroborating XRD-identified phases. In contrast, float samples preserve resistant oxide minerals, including magnetite and spinel, suggesting differential mineral preservation during weathering. Soil pH values range from acidic to slightly acidic conditions (mean pH 5.03 ± 0.15 to 6.14 ± 0.28) across elevations and depths. SOC concentrations also varied across sites (0.79 ± 0.32 to 14.37 ± 6.67 mg C mL⁻¹), indicating substantial spatial variability in SOC pools.

Ongoing metal extraction analyses will further resolve how mineral transformations regulate metal cycling and bioavailable energy landscapes in this upland temperate system.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 2, 2026

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