Characteristics of organic, mineral and chemical composition of frozen earth materials

The organic-mineral and chemical composition of frozen materials and their granulometry have not been well studied to the present time. Much attention was earlier given to the study of ice (as a mineral and a rock) as a component of big accumulations and deposits. However, seasonal and perennial freeze-thaw bring about not only transformations of ice, but also changes in mineral, chemical and organic composition of the mineral matrix.

Chemical processes that occur in the regions of development of frozen ground have a specific nature since the materials typical of these regions are mainly acidic-neutral and reducing, with increased content of carbon dioxide gas, dissolved carbon dioxide and fulvic acids. The processes of coagulation and peptization are widely developed giving rise to the formation of colloidal and silt-sized particles.

The mineral portion of a frozen soil usually comprises primary waterinsoluble minerals, secondary water-insoluble minerals, secondary minerals soluble in water, organic and organo-mineral compounds. The specific feature of the frozen ground is the availability of a new structure-generating mineral, ice, the structure of which is determined by the conditions of formation of the frozen ground and its origin. Ice may fill the pores, form intercalations, lenses and cryogenic conglomerates, or substantial amounts of accumulated ice can form a monomineral rock as represented by ice wedges, injection ice and other types of ground ice.