It is very important to identify the source of sediment yield in a
drainage basin for any practical soil conservation program. Clay minerals in
litological units, can be used as an indicator for prediction of soil erosion.
Marl and marly-limestone of Neogen red beds, Hezardarreh Formation and
Quaternery alluvium, are exposed in the Lateshure watershed. 21 sampels
from surface soils of diffrent lithologic units and alluvium sediments were
collected. These samples were analysed by XRD for identification of
different types of clay minerals (montmoriolit, cholorite, illite and kaolinite)
as well as their amounts were semi-quantitatively determined. Cluster
analysis showed that the clay minerals can differentiate surface soils from
Neogen red beds and alluvium sediments. Based on F test in this study,
montmoriolit and illite can be used as an indicator for prediction of the
source of soil.