Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T01:25:14.413Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Holocene Desert Soil Formation under Sodium Salt Influence in a Playa-Margin Environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Abstract

A visually prominent desert soil with a horizon of clay accumulation (Typic Natrargid) has formed under an arid climate in Panamint Valley, California, in sandy, very calcareous, saline fan alluvium in less than about 3500 yr, and probably less than 2000 yr. Such soils can be used as stratigraphic markers, but could be confused with other desert soils with clay-accumulation horizons (Haplargids) which occur much more commonly on desert alluvial fans, are mostly late Pleistocene or older, and do not form in parent materials that are still calcareous. This Natrargid formed in a playa-margin environment, where clay for translocation and sodium salts that engender rapid clay movement probably were provided by dust fall.

Type
Research Article
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

Alexander, E.B. Nettleton, W.D., (1977). Post-Mazama Natrargids in Dixie Valley, Nevada. Soil Science Society of America Journal 41 1210 1212 Google Scholar
Blackwelder, E., (1954). Pleistocene lakes and drainage in the Mojave region, southern California. Jahns, R.H. Geology of Southern California, Part 5. California Division of Mines San Francisco 35 40 Google Scholar
Dijkerman, J.C. Cline, M.G. Olson, G.W., (1967). Properties and genesis of textural subsoil lamellae. Soil Science 104 7 15 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elford, C.R., (1970). Climates of the States: Climate of California U.S. Dept. Commerce, Environ. Sci. Serv. Admin Silver Springs, Md Climatography of the U.S. No. 60-4 Google Scholar
Gile, L.H., (1975). Holocene soils and soil-geomorphic relations in an arid region of southern New Mexico. Quaternary Research 5 321 360 Google Scholar
Gile, L.H. Hawley, J.W., (1968). Age and comparative development of desert soils at the Gardner Spring radio-carbon site, New Mexico. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 32 709 716 Google Scholar
Grossman, R.B. Millet, J.L., (1961). Carbonate removal from soils by a modification of the acetate buffer method. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 25 325 326 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mehringer, P.J. Jr. (1967). Pollen Analysis of the Tule Springs Area, Nevada 129 200 Nevada State Museum Anthropological Papers No. 13, Part 5 Google Scholar
Miller, D.E., (1971). Formation of vesicular structure in soil. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 35 635 637 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nettleton, W.D. Witty, J.E. Nelson, R.E. Hawley, J.W., (1975). Genesis of argillic horizons in soils of desert areas of the southwestern United States. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 39 919 926 Google Scholar
Okazaki, R. Smith, H.W. Moodie, C.D., (1962). Development of a cation exchange capacity procedure with few inherent errors. Soil Science 93 343 349 Google Scholar
Peterson, F.F., (1977). Dust Infiltration as a Soil Forming Process in Deserts American Society of Agronomy Los Angeles, Calif 172 Agronomy Abstracts Google Scholar
Richards, L.A., (1954). Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkali Soils. Agricultureal Handbook 60 U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Washington, D.C Google Scholar
Smith, G.I., (1968). Late Quaternary geologic and climatic history of Searles Lake, southeastern California. Morrison, R.B. Wright, H.E. Jr. Means of Correlation of Quaternary Successions Vol. 8 293 310 INQUA VII Congress Google Scholar
Smith, G.I., (1978). Late Quaternary Geology of Searles Valley, California: A Field Guide Informal Guidebook for Friends of the Pleistocene, Pacific Coast Section Google Scholar
Smith, G.I. Davis, E.I., (1978). Late Wisconsin-subrecent soils at China Lake. Davis, E.L. The Ancient Californians, Rancholabrean Hunters of the Mojave Lake Country. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 167 172 Science Series 29 Google Scholar
Smith, R.S.U., (1975). Late-Quaternary Pluvial and Tectonic History of Panamint Valley, Inyo and San Bernardino Counties, California. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis California Institute of Technology Pasadena Google Scholar
Smith, R.S.U., (1978). Pluvial History of Panamint Valley, California Guidebook for Friends of the Pleistocene, Pacific Cell Google Scholar
Stuiver, M., (1964). Carbon isotopic distribution and correlated chronology of Searles Lake sediments. American Journal of Science 262 377 392 Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture (1975). Soil Taxonomy Agricultural Handbook No. 436, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Yaalon, D.H. Ganor, E., (1973). The influence of dust on soils during the Quaternary. Soil Science 116 146 155 Google Scholar