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Zhizn Zemli [Life of the Earth] 48, no 1

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Zhizn Zemli [Life of the Earth] 48, no 1

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10.29003/m5044.0514-7468.2026_48_1/21-32

EDN LYCTQU

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Authors:

Bogatyrev, L.G., Pogozhev, E.Yu., Bulanova, A.A., Kuznetsov, V.A., Benediktova, A.I., Karpukhin, M.M., Kubarev, E.N., Demin, V.V.

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weathering crust, geochemistry, soil science, eluvial processes, soil genesis

weathering crust, geochemistry, soil science, eluvial processes, soil genesis

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pp. 21–32

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Bogatyrev, L.G., Pogozhev, E.Yu., Bulanova, A.A., Kuznetsov, V.A., Benediktova, A.I., Karpukhin, M.M., Kubarev, E.N., Demin, V.V., “Hermann Trautschold as the Author of the Term ‘Eluvium’: Continuity of Scientific Ideas and Evolution of the Concept at the Intersection of Sciences”, Zhizn Zemli [Life of the Earth] 48, no 1, 21–32 (2026) (in Engl., abstr. in Russ.). DOI: 10.29003/m5044.0514-7468.2026_48_1/21-32.

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Hermann Trautschold as the Author of the Term “Eluvium”: Continuity of Scientific Ideas and Evolution of the Concept at the Intersection of Sciences

31.03.2026

L.G. Bogatyrev1, PhD, E.Yu. Pogozhev2, PhD, A.A. Bulanova1, V.A. Kuznetsov1, PhD, A.I. Benediktova1, PhD, M.M. Karpukhin3, PhD, E.N. Kubarev1,4,5, PhD, V.V. Demin1, PhD
1 Lomonosov Moscow State University (Faculty of Soil Science)2 Lomonosov Moscow State University (The Earth Science Museum)3 Lomonosov Moscow State University (Faculty of Geology)4 Lomonosov Moscow State University (Agricultural Center)5 Lomonosov Moscow State University (Educational and Experimental Soil-Ecological Center)

This study establishes the authorship of the geological term “eluvium” and traces its evolution in geological and soil sciences. It confirms the priority of H. Trautschold (1817–1902) as the original author of this term, supported by analysis of his works from the 1870s. The term was first introduced by him in 1872. The article demonstrates that the modern interpretation of the term “eluvium” shows a high degree of correlation with H. Trautschold’s classical definition. The development of the concept of eluvium and ideas about eluvial processes is traced through the works of prominent Russian soil scientists – N.M. Sibirtsev, V.V. Dokuchaev, V.I. Vernadsky, B.B. Polynov, V.R. Williams, and N.P. Remezov. V.V. Dokuchaev systematized the concept of eluvium into a coherent framework: definition of eluvium → eluvial processes → stages and phases of eluvial rock transformations. He emphasized that “although these products are sometimes altered beyond recognition of the parent rock which they originated from, a genetic connection between them always persists.” Particular significance lies in the incorporation of the biogeochemical aspect into the concept of eluvium through the works of N.P. Remezov, who established biological accumulation of elements exceeding their removal during eluvial processes. This allowed eluvium formation to be viewed not as a purely abiotic process but as a phenomenon involving living organisms. The article reveals the historical continuity of scientific ideas in the hypothesis of the origin of the Russian Plain: H. Trautschold → V.V. Dokuchaev → B.B. Polynov → V.A. Kovda. H. Trautschold was the first to propose that the Russian Plain formed from deposits lying on top, which were influenced for millennia by atmospheric precipitation, initiating the concept of eluvial origin of plains. This idea was later reflected in the works of V.V. Dokuchaev and B.B. Polynov, and subsequently in V.A. Kovda’s hypothesis regarding the fluvioglacial origin of the Russian Plain. Our analysis confirms that the term “eluvium” is a fundamental concept uniting geology, geomorphology, geochemistry, and soil science, and its evolution reflects the advancement of understanding regarding the genesis of surface deposits and soils.

References

Список литературы

Список литературы

  1. Valkov, V.F., “On eluvial and illuvial phenomena in forest soils of the North-West Caucasus”, Pochvovedenie 11, 3–7 (1971) (in Russian).
  2. Vernadsky, V.I., Coll. Works: in 24 vols. (Moscow: Nauka, 2013) (in Russian).
  3. Williams, V.R., Coll. Works: in 12 vols. (Moscow: Selkhozgiz, 1948–1953) (in Russian).
  4. Geological Dictionary: in 3 vols. (SPb: VSEGEI Publ., 2017) (in Russian).
  5. Gerasimov, I.P., “On the term ‘eluvium’ and its derivatives”, Pochvovedenie 11, 684–687 (1949) (in Russian).
  6. Dokuchaev, V.V., Works: in 8 vols (Moscow–Leningrad: AN SSSR Publ., 1949–1951) (in Russian).
  7. Zaidel’man, F.R., “On the Role of Gleization in the Formation of Light Acid Eluvial Horizons”, Pochvovedenie 9, 1406 (1997) (in Russian).
  8. Ivanov, V.V., “On the Possible Role of Surface Soil-Eluvial Processes in the Genesis of Cover Deposits of the North”, Pochvovedenie 12, 27–34 (1976) (in Russian).
  9. Classification and Diagnosis of Soils of Russia (Smolensk: Oikoumene, 2004) (in Russian).
  10. Kovda, V.A., Fundamentals of Soil Science (Moscow: Nauka, 1973) (in Russian).
  11. Kovda, V.A., Vasilevskaya, V.D., Samoylova, E.M., Yakushevskaya, I.V., “Scheme of Differentiation of Weathering and Soil-Forming Products in the Russian Plain”, Pochvovedenie 7, 5–19 (1968) (in Russian).
  12. Kossovich, P.S., “Soil-Forming Processes as the Basis of Genetic Soil Classification”, J. Opytny Agronomii 5, 679–703 (1910) (in Russian).
  13. Perel’man, A.I., “Forms of Weathering Crust and Their Distribution”, Voprosy Geografii 33, 109–151 (1955) (in Russian).
  14. Polynov, B.B., “On the Question of ‘Eluvial Soils’, Pochvovedenie 11, 682–683 (1949) (in Russian).
  15. Polynov, B.B., Weathering Crust: in 2 parts. Part 1: Weathering Processes. Main Phases and Forms of Weathering Crust and Their Distribution (Leningrad: AN SSSR Publ., 1934) (in Russian).
  16. Polynov, B.B., “On eluvium and eluvial soils in modern understanding”, Pochvovedenie 5, 38–49 (1954) (in Russian).
  17. Remezov, N.P., “On the Relationship Between Biological Accumulation and Eluvial Process Under Forest Canopy”, Pochvovedenie 6, 1–12 (1958) (in Russian).
  18. Remezov, N.P., Chemistry and Genesis of Soils (Moscow: Nauka, 1989) (in Russian).
  19. Rizpolozhensky, R.V., Sketch of the Orohydrographic, Geological and Soil Conditions of Kazan Province (Kazan: Type-lith. V.M. Klyuchnikova, 1895) (in Russian).
  20. Sibirtsev, N.M., Selected Works 1 (Moscow: Izd-vo s.-kh. literatury, 1951) (in Russian).
  21. Sokolov, I.A., “Basic Geo-genetic Concepts and Terms”, Pochvovedenie 12, 3–15 (1976) (in Russian).
  22. Starodubtseva, I.A., Mitta, V.V., “German Adolfovich Trautschold (on the 185th Anniversary of Birth)”, Bull. of MOIP. Geological Section 77 (6), 78–86 (2002) (in Russian).
  23. Rode, A.A. (Ed.), Explanatory Dictionary of Soil Science (Moscow: Nauka, 1975) (in Russian).
  24. Tonkonogov, V.D., “On the Genesis of Soils with Lightened Eluvial Horizon”, Pochvovedenie 5, 564–569 (1996) (in Russian).
  25. Tonkonogov, V.D., Rubilina, N.E., “On Bleached and Brown-Colored Eluvial Horizons of Clay-Differentiated Soils of the European Territory of the Union”, Pochvovedenie 4, 16–26 (1986) (in Russian).
  26. Trautschold, H.A., Fundamentals of Geology: in 3 parts / Comp. by H.A. Trautschold. Vol. 1: Geogony and Geomorphology (Sankt-Petersburg: K. Ricker, 1872) (in Russian).
  27. Trautschold, H.A., Loess and Eluvial Formations of Moscow Province (Moscow: Univ. type. Katkov and Co., 1874) (in Russian).
  28. Trautschold, H.A., Ditmar, A.Yu., Inostrantsev, A.A., Materials for the Geology of Russia. Vol. 2 (Sankt-Petersburg: Imperial Academy of Sciences Printing House, 1870) (in Russian).

References

  1. Valkov, V.F., “On eluvial and illuvial phenomena in forest soils of the North-West Caucasus”, Pochvovedenie 11, 3–7 (1971) (in Russian).
  2. Vernadsky, V.I., Coll. Works: in 24 vols. (Moscow: Nauka, 2013) (in Russian).
  3. Williams, V.R., Coll. Works: in 12 vols. (Moscow: Selkhozgiz, 1948–1953) (in Russian).
  4. Geological Dictionary: in 3 vols. (SPb: VSEGEI Publ., 2017) (in Russian).
  5. Gerasimov, I.P., “On the term ‘eluvium’ and its derivatives”, Pochvovedenie 11, 684–687 (1949) (in Russian).
  6. Dokuchaev, V.V., Works: in 8 vols (Moscow–Leningrad: AN SSSR Publ., 1949–1951) (in Russian).
  7. Zaidel’man, F.R., “On the Role of Gleization in the Formation of Light Acid Eluvial Horizons”, Pochvovedenie 9, 1406 (1997) (in Russian).
  8. Ivanov, V.V., “On the Possible Role of Surface Soil-Eluvial Processes in the Genesis of Cover Deposits of the North”, Pochvovedenie 12, 27–34 (1976) (in Russian).
  9. Classification and Diagnosis of Soils of Russia (Smolensk: Oikoumene, 2004) (in Russian).
  10. Kovda, V.A., Fundamentals of Soil Science (Moscow: Nauka, 1973) (in Russian).
  11. Kovda, V.A., Vasilevskaya, V.D., Samoylova, E.M., Yakushevskaya, I.V., “Scheme of Differentiation of Weathering and Soil-Forming Products in the Russian Plain”, Pochvovedenie 7, 5–19 (1968) (in Russian).
  12. Kossovich, P.S., “Soil-Forming Processes as the Basis of Genetic Soil Classification”, J. Opytny Agronomii 5, 679–703 (1910) (in Russian).
  13. Perel’man, A.I., “Forms of Weathering Crust and Their Distribution”, Voprosy Geografii 33, 109–151 (1955) (in Russian).
  14. Polynov, B.B., “On the Question of ‘Eluvial Soils’, Pochvovedenie 11, 682–683 (1949) (in Russian).
  15. Polynov, B.B., Weathering Crust: in 2 parts. Part 1: Weathering Processes. Main Phases and Forms of Weathering Crust and Their Distribution (Leningrad: AN SSSR Publ., 1934) (in Russian).
  16. Polynov, B.B., “On eluvium and eluvial soils in modern understanding”, Pochvovedenie 5, 38–49 (1954) (in Russian).
  17. Remezov, N.P., “On the Relationship Between Biological Accumulation and Eluvial Process Under Forest Canopy”, Pochvovedenie 6, 1–12 (1958) (in Russian).
  18. Remezov, N.P., Chemistry and Genesis of Soils (Moscow: Nauka, 1989) (in Russian).
  19. Rizpolozhensky, R.V., Sketch of the Orohydrographic, Geological and Soil Conditions of Kazan Province (Kazan: Type-lith. V.M. Klyuchnikova, 1895) (in Russian).
  20. Sibirtsev, N.M., Selected Works 1 (Moscow: Izd-vo s.-kh. literatury, 1951) (in Russian).
  21. Sokolov, I.A., “Basic Geo-genetic Concepts and Terms”, Pochvovedenie 12, 3–15 (1976) (in Russian).
  22. Starodubtseva, I.A., Mitta, V.V., “German Adolfovich Trautschold (on the 185th Anniversary of Birth)”, Bull. of MOIP. Geological Section 77 (6), 78–86 (2002) (in Russian).
  23. Rode, A.A. (Ed.), Explanatory Dictionary of Soil Science (Moscow: Nauka, 1975) (in Russian).
  24. Tonkonogov, V.D., “On the Genesis of Soils with Lightened Eluvial Horizon”, Pochvovedenie 5, 564–569 (1996) (in Russian).
  25. Tonkonogov, V.D., Rubilina, N.E., “On Bleached and Brown-Colored Eluvial Horizons of Clay-Differentiated Soils of the European Territory of the Union”, Pochvovedenie 4, 16–26 (1986) (in Russian).
  26. Trautschold, H.A., Fundamentals of Geology: in 3 parts / Comp. by H.A. Trautschold. Vol. 1: Geogony and Geomorphology (Sankt-Petersburg: K. Ricker, 1872) (in Russian).
  27. Trautschold, H.A., Loess and Eluvial Formations of Moscow Province (Moscow: Univ. type. Katkov and Co., 1874) (in Russian).
  28. Trautschold, H.A., Ditmar, A.Yu., Inostrantsev, A.A., Materials for the Geology of Russia. Vol. 2 (Sankt-Petersburg: Imperial Academy of Sciences Printing House, 1870) (in Russian).