From the Soil Micromorphology Slide Collection

Data for 35-mm slide
Micromorphological description of slide: The soil fabric is dominated by units 80-120 µm that are often closely packed to form aggregations having 300-500 µm widths. These u nits consist of amorphous material (56.5%), well­ decomposed plant tissues (15.8%), diatoms (9.9%), and sponge spicules (often as fragments), mineral grains (1.8%), void space (15.9%). Occasional diatoms (Pinnularia sp., Cocconeis sp.), 150-200 µm lengths, and plant tissues (mainly 400-800 µm) occur randomly throughout the fine material. Percentage areal distributions were assessed from thin section by point counting approximately 3000 points on the thin section at 125x magnification.

Data for the horizon
Horizon sampled: 2C2 (110co2) Depth sampled: 258-273 cm
Physical and chemical data available: 2c2 (IIOco2l (156-61 3): pH = 5.4, c = 21.1 %, N = 1.4%, ash = 57.2%
Macromorphological description of horizon: 10 YR 3/2 sedge-sedimentary peat; weakly fibrous.
Micromorphological description of horizon: See references

Data for thin section
Preparation of sample: Acetone Impregnating medium: Polyester resin Thickness of section: 30 µm approximately Orientation of section: Vertical

Soil Classification U.S.: Entisol
F.A.O.: Gleysol
Canada: Limno Humisol

Elevation: 95 m above sea level Physiographic position: Basin swamp Topography and hill slope position: Leve Parent material: Peat material (woody-sedge sedimentary, sedge-sedimentary and sedimentary)
Soil climatic data and/or soil water balance: Mesic mild humid [Soil Climates of Canada map (1975)]
Vegetation: Dominant vegetation in basin swamp is Spiarea douqlasii (80% cover) and Salix sp. (10% cover)

Frame length: 1.0 mm
Light mode: Partially cross polarized

Fox, C. A. and C. Tarnocai. 1989. The micromorphology of a sedimentary peat deposit from the Pacific temperate wetland region of Canada. p. 311-319. !.!:! L. A Douglas (ed.). Soil micromorphology: A basic and applied science. Proc. 8th IWMSM. Elsevier, New York. Tarnocai, C. and Schuppli, P. 1987. Sedimentary peat i n Canadian peatlands. p. 25-37 In C. D. A. Rubec and R.P. Overend (eds.) Proc. Symposium '87 Wetlands/Peatlands. Edmonton, Canada.Source - C. A. Fox