| Popis: |
Increased pedologic interest in grus has created a need for better understanding of geologic and pedogenic processes producing such materials. Progress in this area is hindered by the incomplete understanding of pedogenic processes, as well as the fact that some of the properties of grus may be created through any of several pathways. Hydrothermal alteration is one important example of a geologic process which may produce characteristics similar to those created by pedogenesis. This process is not often considered by soil scientists because of their unfamiliarity with the geologic environments which engender such conditions, and the petrographic evidence specific to these processes. This study uses petrographic evidence of microfracturing, silicification, and sericitization indicative of hydrothermal alteration in conjunction with igneous structural geology to enhance traditional pedologic assessments of weathering and soil genesis in the Conway Granite grus. This interdisciplinary approach led to the interpretation that the grus was a product of hydrothermal alteration, rather than paleopedogenesis, as had been proposed previously. More importantly, this study demonstrates that interpretations of soil weathering, paleosol occurrences, and grus genesis in a variety of locations can be enhanced by such considerations. |
