The classification of a soil at different taxonomic levels provides abundant information on the weathering and physical–chemical properties of the soil. Geochemical indices are quantitative models that correlate soil weathering status to soil geochemical properties. Therefore, the use of such indices provides a quantitative criterion for determining the intensity of weathering as well as help to recognising soil classes. Furthermore, geochemical indices can be used to understand various aspects of soil agricultural, environmental and engineering properties. The study area was located in Mazandaran province, northern Iran, with a Mediterranean climate, and we assessed the potential use of quantitative geochemical indices to assess the evolutionary stages of soils. The classes of studied soils which were determined according to soil taxonomy were compared versus the results of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and multiple geochemical indices to determine the intensity of weathering. In total, 25 geochemical indices, which were classified as atomic proportion, mobile/mobile, immobile/mobile, mobile/immobile alkaline element-based, mobile/immobile silica-based and immobile/immobile elements were used to assess the stage of soil weathering. Principal components analysis (PCA) of XRF results and the calculated geochemical indices showed high correlation coefficients with soil classifications at different soil taxonomic levels. The results obtained from PCA also showed that the mobile/immobile (alkali element-based and silica-based) as well as the immobile/mobile elements are efficient tools to identify soil classes.

土壤在不同分类水平上的分类提供了关于土壤风化和物理化学特性的丰富信息。地球化学指数是将土壤风化状态与土壤地球化学性质联系起来的定量模型。因此，这些指数的使用为确定风化强度提供了定量标准，并有助于识别土壤类别。此外，地球化学指数可用于了解土壤农业、环境和工程特性的各个方面。研究区位于伊朗北部的马赞德兰省，属于地中海气候，我们评估了定量地球化学指数在评估土壤演化阶段的潜在用途。将根据土壤分类法确定的研究土壤类别与 X 射线荧光 (XRF) 分析和多种地球化学指数的结果进行比较，以确定风化强度。使用原子比例、流动/流动、固定/流动、流动/固定碱性元素、流动/固定二氧化硅和固定/固定元素等25个地球化学指标评价土壤风化阶段. XRF 结果的主成分分析 (PCA) 和计算的地球化学指数显示与不同土壤分类水平的土壤分类具有高相关系数。