Surface microtextures of quartz grains in the soil of the Chuncheon Basin

In this study, the surface microtextures of quartz grains (SMQ) in soil originating from the Chuncheon granite, Gangwon-do, were reported, and then its characteristics have been interpreted into the processes of soil formation and weathering, The overall properties of soil SMQ in Chuncheon area include some predominant physical microtextures such as angular outline, large/medium/small conchoidal fractures, arcuate/straight steps, and upturned plates, as well as some chemical microtextures due to dissolution/sedimentation within the diagenetic alteration environments, In addition, one of the main characteristics of the soil SMQ is that physical microtextures well known to be formed through freeze-thaw processes, such as breakage blocks and microsteps. The soil SMQ in the Chuncheon Basin is interpreted to be largely influenced by the surrounding climate and environmental conditions, Considering the textural properties of rock-forming minerals in the soil that indicate the level of weathering, the activity of physical weathering was evaluated to be relatively more dominant than chemical weathering. This dominant phenomenon of physical weathering is likely to be induced by soil freezing-thawing processes which can be occurred repeatedly every year. The results of this study may contribute to the systematization and follow-up researches using SMQ data for various environments in the Korean Peninsula.