Quantification of soil calcium carbonates by staining and image analysis

Abstract

Quantification of calcium carbonates in a light-colored matrix or disseminated calcium carbonates cannot be obtained directly from impregnated blocks by image analysis. A method that combined staining by alizarin red-S with digital image analysis made it possible to identify and quantify soil calcium carbonates including the disseminated form in thin sections. Best results were obtained under reflected light using a tungsten lamp source. -from Authors