In this article readers are introduced to the many facets of soils - their unique characteristics and diversity, the ecosystem services that soils provide, and their use and misuse.

Some common minerals found in soil include: 1 ... Contributes to soil structure and water-holding capacity. 5. Iron and Aluminum Oxides: Contribute to soil color and affect nutrient availability.

Numerous iron-containing minerals exist on Earth (Table 1 & Figure 2). These minerals are classified as Fe(III)-oxides (e.g., hematite ... of Fe 2+ in the soil solution (Becker & Asch 2005 ...