"Characteristic Spectral Features of Terra Preta (TP) in the 5–15 Terah" by Lucia M. Lepodise, Roger A. Lewis et al.
Terra preta is a fertile anthropogenic soil found in the Amazon basin. One of the most significant differences between the terra preta and surrounding soils is that terra preta is rich in aromatic carbons. Previous infrared investigations of terra preta were reported at energies above 1000 cm−1 where many other forms of carbon also have absorption lines. No measurements have been reported below 800 cm−1, where many absorptions associated with aromatic carbons occur in the absence of aliphatic carbon lines. We employ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy between 150 cm−1 and 500 cm−1....