Why is diffraction used in soil profiles?

X-ray diffraction (XRD) is the technique most heavily relied on in soil mineralogical analysis. X-ray diffraction is a technique that provides detailed information about the atomic structure of crystalline substances. It is a powerful tool in the identification of minerals in rocks and soils.

Explanation:

XRD is used to identify the minerals composing clay-rich, hydrothermally altered rocks that occur on several Cascade volcanoes. Such rocks are believed to play an important role in the generation of large landslides and mudflows. XRD is used to analyze saline minerals, including borates.