An alloy is a mixture of metals or a mixture of a metal and another element.Alloys are defined by metallic bonding character.An alloy may be a solid solution of metal elements (a single phase) or a mixture of metallic phases (two or more solutions). Intermetallic compounds are alloys with a defined stoichiometry and crystal structure.he term alloy is used to describe a mixture of atoms in which the primary constituent is a metal. The primary metal is called the base, the matrix, or the solvent. The secondary constituents are often called solutes.
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and silt.
Generations ago, farmers valued marl as a fertilizer for lime-deficient soils and as a soil conditioner for sandy soils. The lime in marl cements sand grains together, so the soil can better retain heat and water.When added to clay soils, marl had the opposite effect: soil particles became less cohesive, allowing more air, heat, water and plant roots to penetrate.Scandinavian farmers, long familiar with these attributes, actively sought out marl deposits when they migrated to Wisconsin.hen added to clay soils, marl had the opposite effect: soil particles became less cohesive, allowing more air, heat, water and plant roots to penetrate. Scandinavian farmers, long familiar with these attributes, actively sought out marl deposits when they migrated to Wisconsin.