EN
Five profiles of chernozems from several European countries were examined in the present study. The chernozems developed from various rocks and differed in their morphology and chemical properties. Mineralogical studies were carried out on the fraction <2 ľm by an X-ray method, using a diffractometer with a proportional recorder. It was found that all European chernozems examined in this study had a similar mineral complex of the clay fraction. Its major components were montmorillonite and illite usually forming mixed structures, whereas kaolinite, quartz, vermiculite and chlorite were present in smaller amounts, and feldspars occurred as trace minerals. Basically, differences in the mineral composition of various profiles and various soil horizons lie in different quantitative relations between the minerals listed above.