biostudies-literatureBruand ALabEx VOLTAIREMapping the Biome CERRADOMapping the Biome CERRADO (Embrapa - IRD)17193https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9562979biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)Ferralsols, which are estimated to cover 7.5 millions km² worldwide, are deeply weathered red or yellow soils found in the humid tropics. They are considered as the end of a geochemical sequence of weathering and are dominated by low-activity clay and sesquioxides. Their physical properties are closely related to their strong submillimetric granular structure. We aimed to characterize the 2:1 clay minerals identified in many Ferralsols and to discuss them as a marker of soil-feeding termite activity in Ferralsols. We present results recorded with Brazilian Ferralsols developed under Cerrado native vegetation on a range of parent materials. It was found that the 2:1 minerals vary from weakly weathered muscovite to hydroxy-Al interlayered vermiculite, sometimes associated to a finScientific reportsAllochthonous material originating from saprolite as a marker of termite activity in Ferralsols.PMC9562979LABX-100-01No 0203205Bruand AReatto Ade Souza Martins EfalseAllochthonous material originating from saprolite as a marker of termite activity in Ferralsols.Ferralsols, which are estimated to cover 7.5 millions km² worldwide, are deeply weathered red or yellow soils found in the humid tropics. They are considered as the end of a geochemical sequence of weathering and are dominated by low-activity clay and sesquioxides. Their physical properties are closely related to their strong submillimetric granular structure. We aimed to characterize the 2:1 clay minerals identified in many Ferralsols and to discuss them as a marker of soil-feeding termite activity in Ferralsols. We present results recorded with Brazilian Ferralsols developed under Cerrado native vegetation on a range of parent materials. It was found that the 2:1 minerals vary from weakly weathered muscovite to hydroxy-Al interlayered vermiculite, sometimes associated to a fin2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2025-04-19T06:46:16.071Z2024-10-19T08:41:41.649ZS-EPMC95629793622947210.1038/s41598-022-21613-6