The Elena Gallegos Open Space area sits near the base of the Sandia Mountains on a piedmont surface. This exercise was intended to gain insight into the mountain-front landforms of the Pino Embayment area. Through the use of surficial geological mapping and soil descriptions we were able to establish relative ages of geomorphic surfaces of the area and determine whether the area displayed qualities of alluvial fan and pediment surfaces. The geomorphic setting of the study area showed resemblances to two typical types of surfaces seen in mountain-front geomorphology, alluvial fans and pediment surfaces. These surfaces represent two endmembers of mountain-front geomorphology with alluvial fans typically generated under conditions of active
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We looked for the presence or absence of certain soil horizons and properties, and the presence of clay or carbonate features. Comparing soil development and soil properties, we found that site 2 was the oldest. This site was fairly shallow in depth (~65cm) and contained a Btk and petrocalcic K-horizon with stage 3 carbonate morphology. This soil was situated on old Quaternary alluvium. The approximate age of this surface was determined to be between 500 and 200 million years old (mid-Pleistocene). Sites 3 and 5 were middle-aged soils developed on young Quaternary fan deposits. Sites 3 and 5 both had stage 2 carbonate morphology, but site 5 had a greater soil development depth and lacked the Btk-horizon seen at site 3. The carbonate stage indicated that this soil was approximately 100 million to 10 thousand years old (late-Pleistocene). Sites 1 and 4 were the youngest with the soil of site 1 developed on old Quaternary alluvium, and the soil of site 4 developed on young Quaternary fan deposits. Site 4 was believed to be younger than site 1 because it lacked a B-horizon and carbonate features. The carbonate development stage for site 1 was most likely less than 1 indicating that it is younger than 10 thousand years …show more content…
Key features such as Bt, Bk, and K-horizons are key indicators of soil development in older soils. The occurrence of translocated clay and clay films, along with carbonate roots, filaments, and petrocalcic horizons may indicate that clay particles and soluble minerals may have been mobilized, transported, and accumulated in the particular horizon that contains them. Clay films can be useful in identifying argillic horizons (Bt) and the presence of root like filaments can be the morphological expression of the accumulation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or other soluble materials. Clay can be transported by water and redeposited on the surface of larger soil particles, often obscuring the surface of a mineral, contributing to discoloration or a shiny coating in well-developed argillic horizons, while CaCO3 can accumulate under conditions that allow for prolonged soil
We looked for the presence or absence of certain soil horizons and properties, and the presence of clay or carbonate features. Comparing soil development and soil properties, we found that site 2 was the oldest. This site was fairly shallow in depth (~65cm) and contained a Btk and petrocalcic K-horizon with stage 3 carbonate morphology. This soil was situated on old Quaternary alluvium. The approximate age of this surface was determined to be between 500 and 200 million years old (mid-Pleistocene). Sites 3 and 5 were middle-aged soils developed on young Quaternary fan deposits. Sites 3 and 5 both had stage 2 carbonate morphology, but site 5 had a greater soil development depth and lacked the Btk-horizon seen at site 3. The carbonate stage indicated that this soil was approximately 100 million to 10 thousand years old (late-Pleistocene). Sites 1 and 4 were the youngest with the soil of site 1 developed on old Quaternary alluvium, and the soil of site 4 developed on young Quaternary fan deposits. Site 4 was believed to be younger than site 1 because it lacked a B-horizon and carbonate features. The carbonate development stage for site 1 was most likely less than 1 indicating that it is younger than 10 thousand years …show more content…
Key features such as Bt, Bk, and K-horizons are key indicators of soil development in older soils. The occurrence of translocated clay and clay films, along with carbonate roots, filaments, and petrocalcic horizons may indicate that clay particles and soluble minerals may have been mobilized, transported, and accumulated in the particular horizon that contains them. Clay films can be useful in identifying argillic horizons (Bt) and the presence of root like filaments can be the morphological expression of the accumulation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or other soluble materials. Clay can be transported by water and redeposited on the surface of larger soil particles, often obscuring the surface of a mineral, contributing to discoloration or a shiny coating in well-developed argillic horizons, while CaCO3 can accumulate under conditions that allow for prolonged soil