52 Characterization and Interpretation of Soils and Geologic Formations with Carbonates, Gypsum, and Other Soluble Salts
Monday, 6 October 2008
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pedologic and Lanscape Evolution along a Traverse of Highly Gypseous Soils in a Semi-arid Bolson, New Mexico
Paper number: 52-2
Program: JOINT SESSIONS
Time: 8:20 AM – 8:35 AM
Authors
-
Greg CatesUSDA-NRCS, Las Cruces, NM
Abstract
A traverse across representative landforms and soils on the floor of a bolson in south-central New Mexico is presented. The soils are composed primarily of high gypsum-bearing materials from both geogenic and pedogenic sources, mantled in places by a cap of wind and water reworked. siliceous sediments. A record of pedologic and landscape evolution is contained in the soil morphology and geomorphology of these soils which demonstrate the presence and ultimate demise of pluvial lakes in the Tularosa Basin.