『Abstract
　A soil chronosequence consisting of six profiles formed on quartz tholeiite basalt ranging in age from 10,000 years to 1.8 Million years (My) was studied here. Soil clays were identified using XRD diffractogram decomposition methods for samples obtained from the A and C horizons of profiles. The results showed that kaolinite minerals dominated in all the clay fractions. Gibbsite was prominent in the C horizons in the soils from older rocks. Clays in the A horizon of relatively young soils showed an initial stage of illite formation, followed by smectite mixed layer minerals (illite-smectites and then vermiculite-illite) and finally by vermiculite. The initial presence of illite is interesting as there is no magmatic micaceous or phyllosilicate phase in these basalts and the formation of illite we attribute to a secondary process, probably created by alkali transport by plant materials. The change in 2:1 clay mineralogy reflects the overall change in Si/Al ratios in the soils over longer periods of weathering. In all cases gibbsite is more abundant in the C horizons than the A horizons. The difference in gibbsite content between the A and C horizons we attribute to plant transport of siliceous phytolite material to the surface. Continued high rainfall over long periods of time removed the alkali faster than the plants could bring it to the surface, which led to continuous lowering of 2:1 minerals from younger to older in the soil chronosequence. Nevertheless a 2:1, silica-rich mineral persists in the clay assemblages although in very minor amounts.

Keywords: Basalt; Clay minerals; Silica-rich 2:1 minerals; Soil chronosequence』

1. Introduction
2. Materials and methods
　2.1. Sites and sampling
　2.2. Soil chemistry
　2.3. Soil mineral identification and grain sizes
3. Results
　3.1. Soil characteristics
　3.2. Grain sizes
　3.3. Clay mineralogy
4. Discussion
　4.1. Soil chemistry
　4.2. Clay mineralogy
5. Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References