ABSTRACT
Mineral dissolution and precipitation processes influence the distribution of inorganic substances between the soil solid and solution phases, and therefore have a pronounced influence on the chemical composition of soil solutions. The extent to which either process occurs is determined by the chemical properties of the soil solution (specifically, ion activities) and the intrinsic stability of the minerals involved. While the misconception that insoluble minerals do indeed exist in the terrestrial environment persists, it is a fact that no mineral is insoluble in water, and minerals that appear to be insoluble are in reality sparingly soluble. All minerals, indeed all solids, are soluble to some degree in water. Mineral solubility principles are used to elucidate pedogenic processes, to predict the concentrations of elements in soil solutions, to predict trace element-bearing minerals formed in natural and waste-affected environments, and to verify the effectiveness of processes designed to enhance the in situ stabilization of trace elements that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment.
