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ABSTRACT Cerritos are earthen mounds built by pre-Columbian indigenous peoples in the Pampean region of South America. These archaeological structures have been studied for decades from the perspective of archaeology, but without in-deep pedological information. This study aimed to characterize the morphological, physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of cerritos soils in order to understand the processes of cerritos and associated anthropogenic soils formation. Four soil profiles were sampled from four representative cerritos of the Butuí-Mirim archaeological site in the municipality of São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Morphological analyses were performed in the field, as well as routine chemical, granulometric, mineralogy and organic matter fractionation analyses were performed in the laboratory. Data from cerritos soils were compared with data from the surrounding natural soils. Cerritos soils were classified as Pretic Anthrosols (Loamic, Eutric, Technic) in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) international system. Chemical and mineralogical data proved that burning practice and deposition of wastes contributed to soil formation, evidenced mainly by the high phosphorus (P) contents and magnetic susceptibility in the fine soil and silt+clay fractions. Our data suggest that the Butuí-Mirim cerritos were intentionally built by transporting soils and incorporating lithic and organic waste, exhibiting typical characteristics of Anthrosols. Since the Brazilian soil classification system does not currently provide a framework for classifying the cerritos soils, we suggest the creation of the Anthrosols order, with a P (mg kg-1) content requirement of ≥30 (Mehlich-1) or its equivalent of ≥60 (Mehlich-3) to attend the A anthropic horizon and properly classify the cerritos soils.

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ABSTRACT Mineral coal is a major global source of electricity, and in Brazil, it is primarily used when hydroelectric generation is limited by low rainfall. The Candiota Mine, located in Rio Grande do Sul State, is the largest coal deposit in both Brazil and Latin America, with estimated reserves of 1 billion tons. Minesoils, or Technosols, formed at the Candiota Mine are highly susceptible to acid mine drainage due to the characteristics of the parent material and the practices used for topographic recomposition of the mined land. Enhancing the fertility parameters of these minesoils is a key challenge for successful revegetation and restoration. This study aimed to evaluate changes in acidity and fertility parameters in the topsoil of minesoils after 8.6 and 20 years of revegetation with perennial grasses. We hypothesized that correcting acidity and fertility immediately after minesoil formation would have a lasting positive impact on pH and fertility properties, allowing grass establishment and an increase in minesoil carbon content. The experiment was set up in 2003, with treatments consisting of perennial grasses used for revegetation. Soil samples were collected from the 0.00–0.10 m and 0.10–0.20 m layers after 8.6 and 20 years of revegetation. Soil pH, exchangeable calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), available potassium (K+), aluminium (Al3+), and total organic carbon (TOC) content were measured. Additionally, potential cation exchange capacity at pH 7.0 (CEC), base saturation (V%), and aluminium saturation (m%) were calculated. Soil pH in the 0.00–0.10 m layer remained statistically unchanged from 8.6 to 20 years of revegetation, regardless of treatment. However, V% decreased and this was accompanied by a sharp increase in m%, from 0.6 % at 8.6 years to 7.2 % at 20 years of restoration. The content of Mg2+ decreased significantly in Hemarthria altissima (0.00–0.20 m layer) and Cynodon dactylon (0.10–0.20 m layer). On average, TOC content increased by 141 % in the 0.00–0.10 m layer and 97 % in the 0.10–0.20 m layer from 8.6 to 20 years of restoration. After 20 years of restoration, minesoil pH, nutrients, and TOC content were classified as adequate, confirming our hypothesis of long-term benefits from acidity and fertility correction. On one hand, our results indicate the success of liming, fertilization, and revegetation practices in this area, which could serve as a guideline for minesoil restoration strategies. On the other hand, the increase in acidity and m% suggests that additional interventions may be required in the upcoming years of restoration.

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ABSTRACT The activities of people who lived on the Brazilian coast since the Holocene have mainly determined the formation of Sambaqui (= shell mound) soils. Residues from shells and other animals and plants used as food by these people were deposited, resulting in soils with high levels of phosphorus (P) and organic carbon, as well as high base saturation. This study aimed to evaluate P fractions, establish possible relationships between P measurement methods in the soil profiles of Sambaqui formations, and contribute to the definition of a soil class in the Brazilian Soil Classification System (SiBCS) that describes anthropogenic pedogenesis. Three soil profiles with records of anthropogenic activity were selected and sampled for this study, all in São José de Ribamar, Maranhão, Brazil. Soil morphology was described, the physical and chemical properties of the horizons were analyzed, and the profiles were classified according to the SiBCS. Available P was extracted by different methods, and P was fractionated. Surface horizons of profiles P2 and P3 were identified as anthropogenic A, with dark colors, presence of shells, high calcium and organic carbon concentrations, high base saturation, and P content greater than 30 mg kg-1 of soil. Of the available P extractants, Mehlich-3 withdrew the highest P concentrations. Olsen method was positively correlated with pH values, shell presence, and calcium carbonate levels. Phosphorus fractionation of the studied profiles indicated highest representation of the occluded and available P fractions (Mehlich-3). According to the SiBCS, the profiles were classified as Cambissolo Háplico Carbonático (P1 and P3) and Cambissolo Háplico Ta Eutrófico (P2), and an anthropogenic subgroup was proposed for P2 and P3. Based on the World Reference Base (WRB), the profiles were classified as Pretic Calcaric Cambisol (P1) and Pretic Anthrosols (P2 and P3). In other words, the WRB classifies these soils at a high hierarchical level (as Anthrosols or by the main qualifier Pretic), in contrast with the SiBCS.

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ABSTRACT The submersed anthrosols of the estearias in Maranhão exhibit unique characteristics that expand our understanding of anthropogenic soils in complex hydromorphic and fluviolacustrine environments. This study aimed to characterize these soils morphologically, physically, and chemically, and to compare them with other Amazonian Archaeological Dark Earths (ADEs) from upland and floodplain environments. A database of 160 anthropic horizons from 71 profiles in eight studies was compiled from theses and dissertations, allowing detailed comparative analyses. Principal Component Analysis and Pearson correlation were applied to identify the main soil properties associated with each environment. The results indicate that, beyond anthropogenic additions, prolonged flooding and redox-affected conditions play a crucial role in soil formation. When combined with horizons containing ceramic artifacts, charcoal, and organic sediments, these features suggest that the estearias soils formed under distinct dynamics compared to typical ADEs. The novel association of anthropogenic and organic horizons in submerged estuarine soils highlights the complexity of environmental and human interactions in the region. These findings support the need for revising ADE classification criteria, particularly regarding the exclusive use of available phosphorus as a diagnostic parameter. Complementary studies, including micromorphology, mineralogy, and spatial and temporal analyses, are essential to understand the genesis and dynamics of these soils. Despite their limited agricultural potential, these soils represent a valuable scientific and cultural heritage.

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ABSTRACT The growing human influence on soils can degrade or improve their properties, as seen in anthropogenic black earths, which are known for their high fertility. This study aimed to compare two soil profiles in the same watershed in a humid tropical area, specifically in Rondonópolis-MT (Brazil), to understand the physical and chemical transformations resulting from human activity by evaluating a profile with less anthropogenic influence and another developed on technogenic deposits. Thus, the approach to the formation and characterization of soils developed from technogenic deposition becomes relevant as negative human changes in soils intensify. Morphological, physical, and chemical analyses of the profiles were performed, including particle size, pH, exchangeable cations, organic carbon, and trace elements. The least impacted profile (Profile 1) was classified as Neossolo Quartzarênico Órtico típico (Arenosol), whereas the profile with the greatest anthropogenic influence (Profile 2) presented a sequence of horizons indicative of multiple deposition and pedogenesis events and was classified as a Neossolo Flúvico Psamítico gleissólico (Fluvisol). Profile 2 showed greater chemical variability and the presence of technogenic materials, such as plastics and ferrirete fragments, in addition to high levels of chromium, indicating possible contamination. Anthropic soils, although not yet officially classified in the Brazilian Soil Classification System, show pedogenetic processes acting rapidly even in recent deposits. This study highlights the importance of understanding the evolution of these soils in urban environments, both for classifying and understanding their genesis and for proper management, with the aim of mitigating the risks of environmental and population contamination.

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ABSTRACT Failures of mining tailings dams can cause severe environmental impacts, as sadly illustrated by the Fundão dam collapse in Mariana-Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in 2015. This event induced significant physical and chemical changes in the affected landscape, including variations in soil pH, texture, and key edaphic properties. Soils formed from post-industrial anthropogenic activities, known as Technosols, exhibit high biological, chemical, and physical heterogeneity. In the affected area, Technosols comprise a mixture of tailings, iron mining sediments, natural soils, and debris, with high concentrations of iron oxides, silt, and fine sand. This study aimed to deepen the understanding of Technosols on floodplains and riverbanks impacted by the dam rupture by characterizing their physical and chemical properties in detail. Seventy soil profiles were analyzed — 50 Technosols and 20 unaffected soils — using a slice-wise algorithm to generate standard profile sketches for comparison. Tailings-containing layers exhibit distinct chemical characteristics, including higher pH, phosphorus content, base saturation, and silt content than unaffected layers. These horizons exhibited low cation exchange capacity, indicating low fertility. Tailings deposition was controlled by the basin geomorphological gradient, showing greater heterogeneity upstream and more uniformity downstream. Physically, Technosols displayed higher fine particle content in surface layers, associated with the tailings, while deeper layers showed increased coarse sand and clay, reflecting truncated unaffected horizons of the alluvial environment. Chemically, impacted soils exhibited elevated pH and slight increases in phosphorus, sodium, and potassium at the surface, contrasting with more acidic and less fertile unaffected soils downwards, despite local variability, most profiles showed homogeneous responses, with impacts confined to surface layers.

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ABSTRACT Integrating ancestral agricultural techniques into modern practices is essential to developing sustainable, resilient food systems in environments constrained by limited natural resources. This study investigated the Anthrosols of the Atacama Desert, analyzing how traditional populations managed and transformed local soils to enable sustainable agriculture under extreme arid conditions. To this end, samples of cultivated and natural soils were collected in six villages in the province of El Loa, characterizing their granulometry, the content of organic matter, macro and micronutrients, electrical conductivity and soluble anions, besides the mineralogy of the clay fraction by X-ray diffractometry. Statistical analyses (Kruskal-Wallis and Kendall tests) were used to evaluate differences and correlations between the parameters studied. Based on the study of cultivated soils, the results indicate that these Anthrosols underwent three distinct processes of anthrosolization: (1) the construction of terraces with selected materials, involving the removal of larger gravels and the concentration of finer particles, providing more favorable agricultural conditions; (2) irrigation management with Andean meltwater, enriching soils with Na, Ca, and Mg, while maintaining pH range without inducing salinization; and (3) the addition of animal manure, significantly increasing the organic matter and nitrogen contents compared to adjacent reference desert soils. Particle size analysis revealed a higher content of fine particles in cultivated soils (CS) compared to non-cultivated soils (NCS), resulting in greater water retention and improved soil structure. Chemical analysis indicated higher pH, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation values in CS, while phosphorus levels remained similar between CS and NCS, suggesting a high regional natural background of volcanic materials. The mineralogy of the clay fraction evidenced the presence of 2:1 (illite, smectite) and 1:1 (kaolinite) minerals, in addition to the formation of secondary carbonates in some CS, probably associated with irrigation practices. These Anthrosols, as ancestrally built and managed, represent valuable archaeological records of agricultural knowledge and have the potential to support long-term, sustainable cultivation strategies in arid environments subject to water scarcity and adverse climate conditions.

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ABSTRACT The High Andean systems of agricultural terraces are a Pre-Hispanic cultivation technique that allowed the development of one of the most extraordinary civilizations on steep slopes and dry land by the intensive conditioning and management of constructed soils. Despite recent advances, little is known about long-term changes in these constructed soils, especially in the context of high-mountain ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate the morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of 13 soil profiles from highland soils in the upper parts of Cuzco province and to establish a chronology based on C14 dating. Nine soil profiles with clear anthropogenic influence were compared with four profiles that showed no marked anthropogenic influence. The anthropogenic horizons varied in thickness from 0.20 to 1.40 m, and many contained buried horizons enriched in organic matter. The high values of P found in anthropogenic soils highlight the long-term soil management practices with a consistent cumulative improvement, especially in cases of extremely high values in P (Mehlich-1) and total P2O5 (total), with radiocarbon age in some cases of 4110 +/- 30 BP, and therefore from the Pre-Ceramic period (Pre-Inca). Clay mineralogy is very similar in all soils (constructed or natural) dominated by chlorite, illite, kaolinite, and quartz. Soils of the sub-humid region in the higher parts of the study area show less pedogenetic evolution. Despite the low precipitation and rejuvenation, a higher degree of pedogenesis was observed in the highland semi-arid environment, with well-crystalline forms of Fe oxides, such as hematite.

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ABSTRACT Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are archaeological soils with darkened anthropic horizons, fragments of charcoal ceramics, and enriched in P, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn, Zn, and organic matter. They mainly occur in Terra Firme, adjacent to river banks, rarely being recorded in Várzeas. The Solimões River remains practically unexplored in ADE studies. To fill this gap, seven ADE soil profiles were studied in this unexplored region, five in Terra Firme and two in Várzea areas, between São Paulo de Olivença and Amaturá (Alto Solimões, Amazonas). Morphological, physical, and chemical analyses were carried out, complemented by P-form extraction and radiocarbon dating. The morphology of the dark surface shows the abundance of pyrogenic charcoal and ceramics. The high chemical status is confirmed by high levels of P, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn, Zn, Sum of Bases, CEC, and TOC. There is a marked illuviation of clay, accompanied by OM, P and Ca2+, with increasing P contents underground. The P fractions reveal a predominance of P-Ca for the anthropic horizons in Várzeas, whereas P-Al and P-Fe dominate the anthropic horizons of Terra Firme, with few exceptions. The radiocarbon ages of the Terra Firme ADEs in Alto Solimões range from 1190 – 1410 years BP (younger) to 2500-2870 years BP (older), indicating an ancient Late Holocene occupation of drained soils along river banks. In contrast, Várzea ADEs range from 920 to 1270 years BP, indicating a later occupation period after the settlement of adjacent Terra Firme (uplands). Although we present only a provisional account based on a few sites, we postulate that the first settlers in Alto Solimões occupied the Terra Firme area adjacent to the main rivers and later diversified into the Várzeas (floodplains). This pattern of a complementary Várzea-Terra Firme ADE continuum is recurring throughout the Amazonas-Solimões system, as revealed by the new archaeological sites analyzed. The ADEs of Upper Solimões Várzeas show greater chemical fertility than Terra Firme areas. Similar to the Middle Amazon Valley, but they form unusual mounds not observed in the Middle Amazon, suggesting that different floodplain hydrological regimes account for these features. Phosphorus-Ca forms are the primary source of P, which are progressively transformed into P-Al and P-Fe forms with advancing pedogenesis in the most acidic environments of Terra Firme. The unprecedented presence of anthropogenic landforms in the Alto Solimões floodplains demands a more comprehensive investigation of the region to uncover the pre-Colombian cultural occupation and chronology in a key area of the Amazon Basin.

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ABSTRACT The environmental persistence of plastics, their slow degradation and constant fragmentation pose risks to soil health. Microplastic (MP) contamination is already a real global environmental issue, with increasing evidence of its widespread presence in all terrestrial ecosystems, affecting physical and chemical properties, microbial communities, and pedogenetic processes. Soil serves as a significant sink for MPs, primarily through agricultural practices, landfills, waste mismanagement, wastewater treatment and atmospheric deposition. Furthermore, plastics can contribute to the formation of "rocks" (e.g., plastiglomerates and antropoquinas) that could redefine soil classification systems. Existing classification frameworks, including the World Reference Base for Soil Resources, Australian Soil Classification, U.S. Soil Taxonomy, and Brazilian Soil Classification System (SiBCS), differ in how they address the presence of plastics, highlighting a lack of consensus in recognizing anthropogenic artifacts within soils. Despite its increasing prevalence, plastics are often overlooked in soil classification systems, prompting the need for new qualifiers. Furthermore, advancements in detection and quantification methods, such as Soil Spectroscopy and Digital Soil Mapping, are essential to improve our understanding of MP behavior in soil matrices. Pedologists play a crucial role in quantifying MP impacts, developing soil management strategies, and contributing to global environmental policy. Addressing soil MP pollution requires international cooperation, transdisciplinary research, and robust methodological approaches to safeguard soil ecosystems and human health. Research on soil MP pollution has the potential to alter our understanding of human influence on soil properties and functions, with implications for the genesis and classification of Anthroposols. This review highlights important aspects of this phenomenon, with a greater focus on the Brazilian context. Soil scientists are encouraged to pay attention to this matter and contribute to filling current knowledge gaps.

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ABSTRACT Shell middens, known in Brazil as Sambaquis, are anthropogenic formations composed mainly of shells, along with food debris, terrestrial fauna remains, fish bones, lithic artifacts, and, occasionally, human burials. These sites occur in specific areas of the Brazilian coast and in the Amazonian floodplains. This study presents a pedoarchaeological investigation aimed at understanding soil formation processes in shell middens along the southern coast of Espírito Santo State, Brazil, and providing contributions to the classification of Brazilian anthropic soils. We performed standard chemical and physical analyses, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, micromorphology, electron microprobe analysis, and radiocarbon dating. The soils of the Rio Preto 1 Sambaqui are poorly developed, directly formed over shell deposits, and influenced by both ancient human activities and post-depositional pedogenetic processes. The main factors driving pedogenesis include parent material, biological activity, topography, and past anthropogenic impacts. Identified pedogenetic processes are melanization, organic matter stabilization and translocation, lessivage, and induced cementation. Rio Preto 1 is currently the oldest known sambaqui on the southern coast of Espírito Santo, dating back over 6,000 years BP. Due to its fragility and historical significance, urgent conservation measures are needed to safeguard this archaeological heritage site.

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ABSTRACT Anthropogenic soils provide key evidence for understanding how past human societies transformed landscapes and generated long-term environmental changes. This study aimed to analyse the human influence on the formation of anthropogenic soils in the lower basin of the Uruguay River, with special emphasis on the Cañada Saldaña site (Soriano, Uruguay) during the late Holocene. The main objective is to characterize the area geomorphologically and determine whether the Anthrosols found correspond to metagenetic or neogenetic types, thus contributing to the knowledge of pre-Hispanic human practices of the anthropization of the environment. The methodology used is based on a geoarchaeological approach, combining sedimentological, geochemical, and granulometric analysis. Four test pits and two boreholes were carried out in the elevated structures on land and in adjacent landscape units (beach ridges and wetlands). The results indicate that the Cañada Saldaña mound has a mixed genesis, combining contributions from in situ activities and transport of material from the wetland. The presence of several burials within the mound suggests recurrent use of the space for funerary purposes, which could explain the incorporation of additional parental material. It is concluded that the formation of elevated sites in the region is driven by diverse processes, with coexisting structures of constructive, mixed, and in situ disturbance origin. This emphasizes the need to apply precise methodologies to understand the variability of the formation processes of archaeological sites in the lower basin of the Uruguay River.

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ABSTRACT The Pantanal is an exception among the Brazilian biomes in which pre-Columbian human action on the soil has been studied. Studies on Amazon Dark Earth are prominent in the Amazon Rainforest. In the Atlantic Forest and Pampas biomes, the focus is mainly on soils derived from sambaquis (shell mounds), while in the Cerrado and Caatinga, studies mainly focus on shelter soils. This study aimed to verify the occurrence of soils affected by prehistoric human activity in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul and to understand the dynamics of occupation and formation of these soils. To this end, sixteen profiles were collected and described on the Pantanal plain, in the regions of the Abobral, Vermelho, Miranda and Negro rivers. Chemical, mineralogical, physical, and dating analyses were carried out. Fine sand is the dominant grain size in most of the horizons. There are shells of the genus Pomacea sp., as well as fragments of pottery and bones in five profiles. The levels of Mn, Cu, Zn, P, Sr and Ba, known to be geochemical indicators of prehistoric anthropic action in the soil, are high, allowing the classification as Anthrosols by WRB and the presence of anthropic horizons by SiBCS. Labile P content reached values of over 3,000 mg kg-1, similar to the high levels found in the Terras Preta de Índio (Amazon Dark Earth) and Sambaquis. The dates ranged from 7,032 to 620 BP, with the most recent associated with the Rio Negro sector and the oldest associated with the Vermelho River. Kaolinite, apatite and illite make up the clay fraction. Anthrosols of the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul are similar to those of other sambaquis already studied. The constant migrations of the peoples who originated these Anthrosols have led to polyphasic processes of anthropization, with different dates in three periods: sambaquieiro, ceramista and canoeiro.

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ABSTRACT João de Deus karst cavity is located at Lagoa dos Patos, northern Minas Gerais, Brazil and was previously occupied by humans. This study advances the pedogenetic interpretation of Archaeo-Anthrosols with results and discussions about the finding of the first cavity in a carbonate karst environment whose soil exhibits strong pedality in Brazilian territory. Analytical approach, including macroscopic and microscopic observations, and physical, chemical, mineralogical, and pedostratigraphic analyses, provides the empirical basis for reconstructing soil formation and transformation over time. Six pedostratigraphic units were distinguished, supporting the recognition of three discrete phases of human occupation and successive inputs. We propose a six-phase polygenetic model for this cave soil, emphasizing the evolutionary pathways of ped formation and the incorporation of archaeological materials into the profile. Carbonation, gleization, and bioturbation emerge as the dominant pedogenetic processes shaping all pedostratigraphic units under hydromorphic conditions within the cavity, mediated by biological and anthropic contributions. Radiocarbon dating is compared between a pedostratigraphic level of the João de Deus cavity and two regional archaeological contexts: the open-air Caixa D’Água site in Buritizeiro, on the left bank of the São Francisco River, and the Bibocas II quartzitic shelter in the upper-middle São Francisco basin. The identification of ceramic microfragments in two units and the temporal proximity indicated by radiocarbon assays suggest that plant domestication and ceramic production in Central Brazil may have begun earlier than typically acknowledged in the archaeological literature.

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ABSTRACT Sambaquis are Brazilian archaeological sites whose matrix is predominantly composed of shells, accumulated and mixed with various kinds of debris. They are formed by the anthropogenic deposition of mollusk exoskeletons, plant remains, charcoal, tools, and ceramics, among other marks of human intervention. These shell mounds usually have overlying soils with dark-colored horizons rich in organic matter and high in fertility, called Archaeological Dark Earths (ADE). One of the oldest and most significant records of sambaquis in Brazil, known and studied since the 19th century, is Porto da Mina in Quatipuru (PA). Although it represents a long-term human occupation site, no pedoarchaeological investigation has been undertaken there to date. To fill this gap, we conducted a pedogeochemical, mineralogical, and chronological characterization of this site, aiming to understand its genesis, properties, classification, and the geochemical distribution of key elements associated with anthropogenic activity. Soil samples were collected in genetic horizons and submitted to physical and chemical analyses, P fractionation, X-ray diffraction, radiocarbon dating (14C), sulfuric digestion, selective dissolution with dithionite citrate bicarbonate and ammonium oxalate, and microchemical characterization with SEM coupled to EDS of the silt and clay fractions. The geochemical distribution of P, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Al, Si, and Ti in the shell mound area was also evaluated. The cumulative soil formation in the Porto da Mina shell mound is well-defined by superimposed layers indicating the dynamics of occupation, abandonment, and reoccupation of the site by human groups. The predominant form of inorganic P in this soil is P-Ca, with the highest values associated with enriched organic matter horizons, which is paradoxical given the humid tropical climate. Also, the soil still possesses a large reserve of primary biogenic apatite, and the presence of hydroxyapatite, halite, and calcite in the clay fraction. Neoformed 2:1 clay minerals were also observed in the soil. The carbon dating ranged from 4920 ± 30 to 500 ± 30 years BP, and indicates long intervals of site abandonment, up to 200 years. Inconsistencies with previous carbon dating indicate a possible inversion of layers due to active pedobioturbation. The geochemical distribution of the elements at the archaeological site indicated higher contents in areas closer to the main depositional mound and localized points of lower concentration for, P, and Mn.

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ABSTRACT Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs), despite being a relatively minor part of Amazonian soils, are traditional choices for agricultural production by local people, which increases the potential for remobilization of Hg from these soils to aquatic environments. Therefore, considering the relevance of Hg and the general use of ADEs in the Amazon, this study aimed to evaluate the vertical distribution and the edaphic factors controlling total mercury in Amazonian Dark Earth profiles from the Madeira and Solimões River Basins to infer the relative potential for Hg retention or mobilization compared to other Amazonian soils. This study comprises ADEs sampled from the Madeira River (n = 34) and Solimões River Basins (n = 43), with depth varying between 0.20 and 0.90 m. The contents of the elements (Ca, Mg, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, P, Ti, V, Zn and Zr) were determined by induced plasma optical atomic emission spectrometry. Total Hg was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) with cold-vapor generation (CV-AAS). Soil classification was carried out according to the Brazilian Soil Classification System. The data show there are at least four interrelated components for Hg dynamics in ADEs: lithogenic control is indicated by immobile elements, pedogenic control by the association of Hg with iron associated with human control responsible for the deposition of ash and organic matter in soils over thousands of years, and hydromorphic control in poorly drained soils or those located in areas of periodic flooding.

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ABSTRACT The diagnostic anthropic A horizon in the Brazilian Soil Classification System (SiBCS) and the Pretic horizon in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) comprise the surface mineral genetic horizons of soils formed under strong influence of original indigenous communities for a long time, notably in Brazil those known as Terras Pretas de Índio (TPI) or Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE). The surface horizons of these soils in Brazil are characterized by ceramic artifacts, charcoal, dark colors, and higher levels of carbon, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus than the adjacent soils. This study aimed to propose additional quantitative criteria for the anthropic A horizon in the SiBCS and contribute to the Pretic horizon and Pretic Anthrosols in the WRB. A database of many studies on these soils was compiled, including morphological, physical, and chemical diagnostic characteristics of horizons classified as anthropic (Au) in anthropized soils. The following data was used to identify and differentiate these horizons: thickness, color (value and chroma), pH(H2O), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (V), available phosphorus (P – Mehlich-1 extractant), and organic carbon (Corg). For SiBCS, it is suggested to define the diagnostic anthropic A horizon based on a limit of organic carbon content (Corg) greater than or equal to 6.0 g kg-1 and a color with value ≤4 and chroma ≤3; to create the “anthropic character” for surface mineral diagnostic horizons with expressive anthropic modifications that do not meet the quantitative criteria of thickness, color, P, and Corg for the diagnostic anthropic A horizon; and to define a criteria of “anthric properties”, to be used in soils in which the surface mineral diagnostic horizons show recent and significant modifications due to agricultural and/or other activities, meeting a P content (Mehlich-1 extractant) ≥30 mg kg-1 and V ≥50 %, abrupt transition from the surface horizon to the subsequent one, and/or absence of transitional horizons AB and/or BA. In the WRB system, it is proposed that the Pretic horizon should maintain the P content (Mehlich-1 extractant) ≥30 mg kg-1, and in the Pretic Anthrosols class, to reduce the combined thickness of Pretic sub horizons to ≥0.30 m (0.30 m) within 1.00 m (1.00 m) of the mineral soil surface.

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ABSTRACT The occurrence of late Quaternary archaeological sites in shelters is fundamental for understanding Brazilian pre-Columbian human occupation along the São Franciscan depression, requiring cooperative efforts between professionals in Archaeology, Pedology, Biology and Anthropology. The present interdisciplinary study aimed to characterize Archaeoanthrosols in natural limestone shelters in the Peruaçu National Park, in the northern region of Minas Gerais. Pre-Columbian people inhabited these shelters for thousands of years, leaving materials of different natures and origins, resulting in very peculiar anthropogenic soils, on which no pedo-archaeological studies have yet been understood. The chemistry and micromorphology of soils from two of the best-known devastated sites in the park were investigated, representing the history of regional occupation across different phases (Lapas do Boquete and Malhador). To this end, deformed and undeformed samples were collected at different depths, provided for general characterization and preparation of thin sections for micromorphological study. Archaeoantrosols exhibit a polycyclic genesis, marked by successive climate changes, associated with distinct periods of human occupation. This occupation was episodic and cumulative over the millennia, with discontinuities related to greater or lesser human activity on the shelter and in the soils studied. Micromorphological analyses revealed the presence of a wide variety of small-scale allochthonous materials, such as bones, charcoal, shell fragments, and secondary products formed by the soil formation process. The deposition and preservation of unstable mineral phases throughout the Holocene reveal particular chemical conditions of the soils beneath shelters, formed in “sterile” and “non-sterile” layers beneath the rocky roof. The pedo-archaeological study becomes a key tool for the interpretation of these archaeological sites, reinforcing the need for greater interaction between pedology and archeology, and the Archaeoantrosols formed under protected conditions in the limestone shelter exhibit unique characteristics that allow them to be distinguished from other Brazilian archaeological soils, studied in different locations and different climates.

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ABSTRACT Urban soils play a crucial role in regulating the hydrological cycle, particularly in flood management. This study investigates the morphological, physical, chemical, and hydrological properties of soils in Villa-Lobos Park, São Paulo (Brazil), to assess their potential for mitigating flood risks through the "sponge city" concept. The results indicate that the soils in this urban park exhibit characteristics typical of Technosols, with significant anthropogenic materials such as plastics, ceramics, rubber, and concrete influencing their properties. Despite the challenges posed by soil compaction and anthropogenic waste, the development of granular and blocky structures over about three decades has enhanced bulk density, total porosity, infiltration, permeability, and water retention in the studied soils. The data suggest that, when managed effectively, urban soils can significantly increase water infiltration rates and reduce surface runoff, contributing to flood mitigation. This research highlights the importance of the interplay between pedogenetic processes and management practices to optimize the hydrological functions of urban soils. The findings provide valuable insights for urban planning strategies that utilize urban soils as ecosystem service providers to enhance flood resilience in cities.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Technosols are anthropogenic soils, and are mostly intentionally created and/or modified to serve a specific purpose, such as waste management and the restoration of ecosystems degraded by industrial activities. In this sense, open-cast coal mining areas can be classified as Technosols, which already use their own mining waste in their topographic restoration. The construction of Technosols for the purpose of mining waste disposing and recovering degraded areas has the potential to offset up to 60 % of the CO2 emissions caused by this activity, contributing achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13, 15 and 2 (in some cases, depending on the type of residue to be used in the overburden layer), relating respectively to climate action, the preservation of terrestrial life, and hunger eradication. Therefore, this study aims to provide a literature review of Technosols constructed from coal mining waste, highlighting the challenges that still need to be addressed by soil science to restore these areas ecologically. The methodology consisted of a bibliometric analysis using the terms “Mined Soils” OR “Minesoils” OR “Technosols” AND “Coal” in the Web of Science Core Collection database. The search was restricted to article-type documents published in English between 2004 and 2023, resulting in a dataset of 199 articles. The analysis was performed using VOSviewer and HistCite software, which enable bibliographic coupling between bibliometric variables such as countries, keywords, and citations. The analysis of keyword co-occurrence highlighted a trend towards increased academic relevance of topics related to the environmental contamination potential of coal mining waste, carbon sequestration by Technosols, the morphological characteristics of these soils, and recovery indicators for mined areas. The integration of the properties that characterize soil health, especially the biological ones, is the main gap in this field of study. On a global scale, Technosols are a promising strategy for the recovery of areas degraded by anthropogenic activities, aligning with greater efficiency in waste management and the mitigation of impacts associated with the climate crisis, due to their high potential for CO2 capture.