Characteristics of Eolian Influenced Soils in Connecticut: II. Chemical and Mineralogical Properties as Keys to Profile Mixing

Abstract

AbstractUnderlying a small eolian soil deposit east of the Connecticut River, Triassic till and stratified sand and gravels had large particles, low free iron oxide content, red hue, and montmorin. The wind‐blown soil near the source had small particles, high free iron oxide content, brown color, and no montmorin. In the thinner soil mantle at a distance from the source larger particles appeared; the free iron oxide content decreased; the soil became redder; and montmorin appeared. All of these facts indicate that the distant profiles were mixed. An index of mixing based on mean size was defined using 0 for eolian sediment and 100 for the underlying deposit. The index was as great as 75 in the B and 50 in the A horizons. The presence of unstable montmorin and the scarcity of free iron oxide in the mixed profiles indicate that the mixing phenomenon was post glacial, relatively recent, and likely due to tree throw. From data on the Connecticut, Illinois and New Jersey deposits a prediction was made concerning the change in particle size with distance in any deposit.