Potential of soil minerals to sequester soil organic carbon

[Display omitted] •Carbon sequestration potential of the clay fraction.•Determination of the carbon saturation deficit of each mineral of the clay fraction.•Identification of the equation for the prediction of carbon sequestration potential.•Identification of land uses with the greatest carbon sequestration potential. The capacity of soil to sequester carbon (C) is a key process that promotes the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere. Soils can absorb as much as 20% of anthropogenic carbon emissions, which can contribute to mitigate climate change. This capacity relies on the organo-mineral association, which includes different minerals, Fe and Al oxides, which have a critical soil organic carbon (SOC) sorption surface. Based on an equation of the potential C saturation deficit of fine soil particles (