Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T21:46:42.980Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Alluvial Soil Chronosequence in the Inner Coastal Plain, Central Virginia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jeffrey L. Howard ,
Dan F. Amos  and
W. Lee Daniels
Jeffrey L. Howard
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202
Dan F. Amos
Affiliation:
Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
W. Lee Daniels
Affiliation:
Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A chronological sequence of soils formed on a series of alluvial depositional surfaces ranging in age from late-middle Miocene to late Pleistocene was characterized to clarify soil-geomorphic relations and provide a basis for allostratigraphic subdivision of the inner Coastal Plain. On Quaternary river terraces, Ultic Hapludalfs containing abundant weatherable mineral species and clast types are estimated to have formed in 60,000-120,000 yr, whereas Typic Hapludults greatly depleted in weatherable minerals and showing strong weathering of clast types are estimated to be 700,000-1,600,000 yr old. Typic Paleudults with incipient plinthite, duripan, and ferricrete development characterize interfluves that have been little eroded since early Pliocene time (3.4-5.3 myr ago). Typic-Plinthic Paleudults with intense weathering of siliceous clasts and moderate to strong duripan and ferricrete development are found on surfaces that formed near the beginning of late Miocene time (10.8-13.0 myr ago). Chemical weathering in the chronosequence may be classified into three progressive stages: (1) decomposition of unstable sand- and silt-sized minerals into a mixed (stable + unstable) clay-mineral suite (stable Fe + Al/Si bulk chemical composition, < 106 yr); (2) transformation of mixed clay-mineral suite into a stable suite (increasing Fe + Al/Si bulk chemical composition, 106 - 107 yr); and (3) transformation of stable suite into ultrastable clay-mineral suite (increasing Fe/Si bulk composition, > 107 yr). Not all soil properties show unidirectional development, nor is a steady state of pedon development observed even after approximately 107 yr of chemical weathering. Soil development in the chronosequence is episodic. The transition from one phase to the next is marked by a change in rate, and sometimes a reversal in the direction, of development of one or more soil properties.

Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , March 1993 , pp. 201 - 213
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alt, D. (1974). Arid climatic control of Miocene sedimentation and origin of modern drainage, southeastern United States. In “Post-Miocene stratigraphy, central and southern Atlantic Coastal Plain” (Oaks, R. Q. Jr., and DuBar, J. R., Eds.), pp. 21–29. Utah Univ. Press, Logan, UT.Google Scholar
Berggren, W. A. Kent, D. V. Flynn, J. J., and van Couvering, J. A. (1985). Cenozoic geochronology. Geological Society of America Bulletin 96, 1407–1418.Google Scholar
Bernas, B. (1968). A new method for decomposition and comprehensive analysis of silicates by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Analytical Chemistry 40, 1682–1686.Google Scholar
Bilzi, A. F., and Ciolkosz, E. J. (1977). A field morphology rating scale for evaluating pedological development. Soil Science 124 , 45–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birkeland, P. W. (1984). “Soils and Geomorphology.” Oxford Univ. Press.Google Scholar
Blackwelder, B. W. (1981). Late Cenozoic marine deposition in the United States Atlantic Coastal Plain related to tectonism and global climate. Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology 34, 87–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bloom, A. L. Broecker, W. S. Chapell, J. M. A. Mathews, R. K., and Mesolella, K. J. (1974). Quaternary sea level fluctuations on a tectonic coast, New 230Th/234U dates from the Huon Peninsula, New Guinea. Quaternary Research 4, 185–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bobyarchick, A. R. (1976). “Tectogenesis of the Hylas Zone and Eastern Piedmont near Richmond, Virginia.” Unpublished M.S. thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.Google Scholar
Clay, J. W. (1975). “Soil Survey of Henrico County, Virginia.” U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Colquhoun, D. J. (1974). Cyclic surficial sediments of the middle and lower Coastal Plain, central South Carolina. In “Post-Miocene Stratigraphy, Central and Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain” (Oaks, R. Q. Jr., and DuBar, J. R., Eds.), pp. 179–190. Utah Univ. Press, Logan, UT.Google Scholar
Cronin, T. M. Szabo, B. J. Ager, T. A. Hazel, J. E., and Owens, J. P. (1981). Quaternary climates and sea levels of the U.S. Atlantic Coastal Plain. Science 211, 233–240.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, D. A. Jr., and Onuschak, E. Jr. (1974). “Geology of the Studley, Yellow Tavem, Richmond and Seven Pines quadrangles, Virginia.” Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Report 38.Google Scholar
Daniels, R. B. Gamble, E. E., and Cady, J. G. (1970). Some relations among Coastal Plain soils and geomorphic surfaces in North Carolina. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 34, 648–653.Google Scholar
Daniels, R. B. Gamble, E. E., and Wheeler, W. H. (1978). Age of soil landscapes in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Soil Science Society of America Journal 42, 98–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flint, R. F. (1966). Comparison of interglacial marine stratigraphy in Virginia, Alaska, and Mediterranean areas. American Journal of Science 264, 673–684.Google Scholar
Galloway, R. W. (1983). Full-glacial southwestern United States, Mild and wet or cold and dry? Quaternary Research 19, 236–248.Google Scholar
Goodwin, B. K. (1970). “Geology of the Hylas and Midlothian Quadrangles, Virginia.” Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Report 23.Google Scholar
Goodwin, B. K. (1980). “Geology of the Bon Air Quadrangle, Vir-ginia.” Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 18. [lext and 1:24,000 scale map] Google Scholar
Harden, J. W., and Taylor, E. M. (1983). A quantitative comparison of soil development in four climatic regimes. Quaternary Research, 20, 342–359.Google Scholar
Harrison, W. Matloy, R. J. Rusnak, G. A., and Terasmae, J. (1965). Possible late Pleistocene uplift, Chesapeake Bay entrance. Journal of Geology 73, 201–229.Google Scholar
Hodges, R. L. (1978). “Soil Survey of Chesterfield County, Virginia.” U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Jackson, M. L. (1956). “Soil Chemical Analysis—Advanced Course.” Mimeograph published by author, Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.Google Scholar
Jenny, H. (1941). “Factors of Soil Formation.” McGraw-Hill, New York.Google Scholar
Kidwell, S. M. (1984). Outcrop features and origin of basin margin unconformities in the lower Chesapeake Group (Miocene), Atlantic Coastal Plain. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 36, 37–58.Google Scholar
Markewich, H. W. Pavich, M. J. Mausbach, M. J. Hall, R. L. Johnson, R. G., and Hearn, P. P. (1987). “Age Relations between Soils and Geology in the Coastal Plain of Maryland and Virginia. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1589.Google Scholar
Meixner, R. E., and Singer, M. J. (1981). Use of a field morphology rating system to evaluate soil formation and discontinuties. Soil Science 131, 114–123.Google Scholar
Mixon, R. B. Szabo, B. J., and Owens, J. P. (1982). “Uranium-Series Dating of Mollusks and Corals, and Age of Pleistocene Deposits, Chesapeake Bay area, Virginia and Maryland.” U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1167-E.Google Scholar
Mixon, R. B. Berquist, C. R. Newell, W. L. Johnson, G. H. (1989) “Geologic Map of the Coastal Plain, Virginia.” U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map 1–2033. [1:250,000 scale] Google Scholar
North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature (1983). North American Stratigraphic Code. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 67, 841–875.Google Scholar
Oaks, R. Q., and Coch, N. K. (1973). “Post-Miocene Stratigraphy and Morphology, Southeastern Virginia.” Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Bulletin 82.Google Scholar
Owens, J. P., and Denny, C. S. (1979). “Upper Cenozoic Sediments of the Lower Delaware Valley and Northern Delmarva Peninsula.” U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1067-D.Google Scholar
Peebles, P. C Johnson, G. H., and Berquist, C. R. (1984). The middle and late Pleistocene stratigraphy of the outer Coastal Plain, southeastern Virginia. Virginia Minerals 30, 13–22.Google Scholar
Soil Survey Staff (1975). “Soil Taxonomy.” U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Stow, M. H. (1939). Reflection of provenance in heavy minerals of James River, Virginia. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 9, 86–91.Google Scholar
Teifke, R. H. (1973). “Geologic Studies, Coastal Plain of Virginia.” Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Bulletin 83,Google Scholar
Vail, P. R., and Hardenbol, J. (1979). Sea level changes during the Tertiary. Oceanus 22, 71–79.Google Scholar
Van Donk, J. (1976). 180 record of the Atlantic Ocean for the entire Pleistocene Epoch. Geological Society of America Memoir 145, 147–163.Google Scholar
Ward, L. W. and Blackwelder, B. W. (1980). “Stratigraphic Revision of Upper Miocene and Lower Pliocene Beds of the Chesapeake Group, Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain.” U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1482-D.Google Scholar
Whitehead, D. R. (1965). Palynology and Pleistocene phytogeography of unglaciated eastern North America. In “The Quaternary of the United States” (Wright, H. E. and Frey, D. G., Eds.), pp. 417–432. Princeton Univ. Press, New Jersey.Google Scholar
Williams, D. F. Thunell, R. C Tappa, E. Rio, D., and Raffi, I. (1988). Chronology of the Pleistocene oxygen isotope record: 0–1.88 m.y. B.P. Paieogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology 64, 221–240.Google Scholar