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15 - Soils and duricrusts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2016

By
Jürgen Runge
Edited by
Jasper Knight  and
Stefan W. Grab
Jasper Knight
Affiliation:
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Stefan W. Grab
Affiliation:
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
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Summary

Abstract

Weathering is a climate-dependent mechanism whereby different physical, chemical and biological processes lead to regolith and soil formation. Pleistocene and Holocene climatic changes caused significant modification of formerly weathered soils, and hardened layers of substrata (duricrusts) which are now closely associated with scarps and mesas. This chapter outlines the main pedogenic processes, the role of time, and regional soil patterns in southern Africa. Major types of duricrusts (calcretes, silcretes, ferricretes) are briefly described, and their significance for long-term landscape evolution is discussed. Duricrusts are important landscape markers for understanding past, present and possibly future weathering, soil and erosion dynamics in sensitive, climate-controlled landscapes.

Type
Chapter
Information
Quaternary Environmental Change in Southern Africa
Physical and Human Dimensions
 , pp. 234 - 249
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2016

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  • Soils and duricrusts
  • Edited by Jasper Knight, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Stefan W. Grab, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
  • Book: Quaternary Environmental Change in Southern Africa
  • Online publication: 05 June 2016
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107295483.015
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  • Soils and duricrusts
  • Edited by Jasper Knight, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Stefan W. Grab, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
  • Book: Quaternary Environmental Change in Southern Africa
  • Online publication: 05 June 2016
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107295483.015
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Soils and duricrusts
  • Edited by Jasper Knight, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Stefan W. Grab, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
  • Book: Quaternary Environmental Change in Southern Africa
  • Online publication: 05 June 2016
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107295483.015
Available formats
×