Abstract--The dissolution of synthetic magnetite, maghemite, hematite, goethite, lepidocrocite, and akaganeite was faster in HCI than in HCIO4. In the presence of H § the C1-ion increased the dissolution rate, but the 004-ion had no effect, suggesting that the formation of Fe-Cl surface complexes assists dissolution. The effect of temperature on the initial dissolution rate can be described by the Arrhenius equation, with dissolution rates in the order: lepidocrocite > magnetite > akaganeite > maghemite > hematite > goethite. Activation energies and frequency factors for these minerals are 20.0, 19.0, 16.0, 20.3, 20.9, 22.5 kcal/ mole and 5.8 • 1011, 1.8 • 101~ 7.4 • 10 7, 5.1 • 101~ 2.1 • 101~ 3.0 x 1011 g Fe dissolved/mZ/hr, respectively. The complete dissolution of magnetite, maghemite, hematite, and goethite is well described by the cube-root law, whereas that of lepidocrocite is not.

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The P sorption characteristics of 97 soils that are representative of the agricultural areas of Western Australia were described using Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The Langmuir P maximum (xm) ranged from 11 to 2132 �g g-1 soil and the Freundlich k coefficient ranged from 1 to 1681. Clay content, DCB Fe and Al, oxalate Fe and AL, and pyrophosphate Al were positively related to xm and k. By using stepwise regression analysis, the combination of DCB and oxalate-soluble A1 predicted more than 75% Of the variation in the P sorption coefficients. Reactive Al compounds may thus be responsible for much of the P sorption by these soils. Soil pH in 1 M NaF (pH 8.2), which is normally used for the detection of allophanic material, was strongly related to the P sorption coefficients and might therefore be used as a quick test for predicting the P sorption capacity of soils.

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Maghemite in Darling Range lateritic duricrust ranges from 2 to 10% in abundance, contains less than 5 mole % Al and occurs as aggregates of very small ~ 150 A subrounded platy crystals. Corundum is also present, ranging from 1 to 3.5% in abundance, and it contains less than 3 mole % Fe and occurs as rounded (~250 A) crystals. The maghemite and corundum contents are positively correlated (P < 0.01), which may indicate a common origin due to dehydroxylation of Fe and Al oxyhydroxides in bush fires.

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Chemical and mineralogical analyses of two representative laterite profiles developed from granite in south-westem Australia have shown that several depth zones defined by particular mineral suites and geochemistry may be recognized. These zones are not simply related to the conventional morphological pallid, mottled, and ferruginous zones.Changes in geochemistry in both profiles can be related to the stability of the major mineral species and to the common isomorphous substitutions occurring in them. Ca, Na, and Mg, which are mainly present in plagioclase feldspars and ferromagnesian minerals, are removed during the earliest stage of alteration of the parent granite. K, Mn, Zn, and residual Ca, Na, Mg, and Sr decrease as microcline and micas alter to kaolin. A1 and Fe are most abundant in the surface zones which contain secondary sesquioxide minerals.