Geology 210 - Class Preparation Questions

Dry Climate Soils and Soil Carbonate

Describe the typical profiles of mollisols, aridsols and vertisols.  What properties of these soils are directly related to 'incomplete leaching'?

Under what conditions do the following minerals precipitate as 'salts' in soils?  calcite, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, sodium bicarbonate, opaline silica

How does the carbonate buffer system operate in soils which have subsurface accumulations of calcium carbonate?

What is the relationship between climate and depth of carbonate accumulation in soils?

What are the textures and fabrics of calcite cement in soils that are diagnostic of vadose vs. phreatic precipitation?

How do stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen record the climate and vegetation conditions under which soil carbonate prepitates?