Mineralogy of Latosols along a regional toposequence across the Central Plateau (Brazil): First results.

The Brazilian Central Plateau is constituted of the two main geomorphic surfaces: the South American surface and the Velhas surface. These surfaces were developed during the Cretaceous Superior and Tertiary and are covered by deeply weathered Latosols. The South American surface is the oldest and occupies the highest position in the landscape (950 to 1,200 m altitude) with smoothly convex plane portions. The Velhas surface is composed by irregular and slightly sloping planes and occupies in the landscape (750 to 950 m altitude). It is connected to the South American surface by areas of steep hillsides. Latosols cover about 40 % of the Central Plateau surface area. Most Latosols in the Brazilian Soil Taxonomy correspond to Oxisols in the Soil Taxonomy and to Ferralsols in the Internationa