From the Soil Micromorphology Slide Collection

Micromorphological description of slide: Mainly welded spheroidal and lenticular pellets. They become visible in the vicinity of the larger vughs. Pores are mammilated and therefore the units are still conspicuous. Thin sections of the subsoil beneath this mound indicate that pellets made by termites are also present in the subsoil.

Data for the horizon
Horizon sampled: The nursery part of a Macrotermes subhyalinus mound. Depth sampled: 170-200 cm
Physical and chemical data available: Particle size distribution: 9% sand, 34% silt, and 57% clay; pH 6.7; organic carbon 0.72%; volume of pores larger than 12 um is about 10.4%. See reference for more information.

Data for thin section
Preparation of sample: Air dry
Impregnating medium: Vestopal-1 50
Thickness of section: 25 µm

Soil Classification
F.A.O.: Humic Cambisol

Elevation: 1402 m
Parent material: Tertiary volcanics
Soil climatic data and/or soil water balance: Mean annual temperature 230 C; mean annual precipitation 600 mm
Vegetation: Acacia shrubs

Data for 35-mm slide
Frame length: See bar scale on slide
Light mode: Crossed polarized

Mermut, A. R., M. A. Arshad, and R. J. St. Arnaud. 1 984. Micropedological study of termite mounds of three species of macrotermes in Kenya. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48: 613-620.
Source - A. R. Mermut

Slide BF23. Soil Science Society of America, 1993. A Reference Slide Collection for Soil Micromorphology. SSSA, Madison, WI.