Paralithic materials (Figure 81).
Paralithic materials.—A diagnostic soil material consisting of partially weathered or weakly consolidated bedrock that is at least very weakly coherent but no more than moderately coherent. Typically, these materials can be dug with hand tools (although with some difficulty). Dry fragments placed in water do not slake, thus confirming they are coherent. In a soil profile description, the layer consisting of paralithic materials is typically designated by the horizon symbol “Cr.” See densic materials and slake.
Figure 81.—Examples of soil series with paralithic contact and paralithic materials:
Left photo: Shellrock soil series, a Typic Xeropsamment formed from weathered granite.
Center photo: Polkton soil series, an Oxyaquic Vertic Hapludalf formed from weathered Triassic siltstone.
Right photo: Whitetop soil series, a Vitrandic Haploxeroll formed from weakly consolidated ash.
Paralithic materials (Figure 81).
Paralithic materials.—A diagnostic soil material consisting of partially weathered or weakly consolidated bedrock that is at least very weakly coherent but no more than moderately coherent. Typically, these materials can be dug with hand tools (although with some difficulty). Dry fragments placed in water do not slake, thus confirming they are coherent. In a soil profile description, the layer consisting of paralithic materials is typically designated by the horizon symbol “Cr.” See densic materials and slake.
Figure 81.—Examples of soil series with paralithic contact and paralithic materials:
Left photo: Shellrock soil series, a Typic Xeropsamment formed from weathered granite.
Center photo: Polkton soil series, an Oxyaquic Vertic Hapludalf formed from weathered Triassic siltstone.
Right photo: Whitetop soil series, a Vitrandic Haploxeroll formed from weakly consolidated ash.