Hill Soils Research Articles

Prairie‐Forest Transition Soils of the South Dakota Black Hills

AbstractSoils with at least weak development from prairie areas in the Black Hills Ponderosa pine forest have horizon differentiation that is more characteristic of forest than grassland soils. The lower A horizon contains more sand, but less clay and silt, and has more exchangeable hydrogen than is characteristic of prairie soils in western South Dakota. The platy or nearly structureless lower A horizons and the B horizons with reddish‐colored blocky structure are similar to those of the adjacent forested soils and probably developed under forest. Thus, the soils in the grasslands apparently were suitable for forest in the past and probably are not a factor in causing the prairie today.

Gravity investigation of the Elk Hills (U. S. Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1), California

As part of a study by the U.S. Geological Survey of the geology and geophysics of the Elk Hills oil field (U.S. Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1), a detailed gravity survey is being conducted over the area of the known hydrocarbon reservoirs and the surrounding region. An extremely accurate survey is being conducted to use the results for isolation of small anomalies that are possibly attributable to accumulations of petroleum and natural gas [McCulloh, 1967].An initial survey of 615 stations is completed over 250 km2 centered on the west half of the Reserve (Figure 1). A similar survey, with an additional 600 stations planned, is in progress for an area of about 260 km2 over the eastern portion of the reserve. Elevations are known to the closest ±3 cm and horizontal positions to ±15 meters. Measurements of gravity at the surface appear to be reliable to ±0.01 mgal. The entire network of gravity stations is tied to stations 268 of Chapman [1966] in the town of McKittrick.

THE POTENTIAL OF LOTUS spp. FOR HILL LAND IN WALES

Thirty‐four introductions of Lotus corniculatus and L. uliginosus, obtained from Europe, North America and New Zealand, were grown in plots with Aberystwyth S23 ryegrass at three centres in Wales (230–400 m a. s. 1.) to assess their potential as legumes for poor acid hill soils. The control white clover varieties were generally successful in these difficult conditions, whereas all the Lotus introductions were poor in two experiments and in the third experiment gave way to volunteer white clover by the third harvest year. These results indicate that none of the numerous Lotus varieties tested would be a useful addition to pasture seeds mixtures for hill lands in Wales.

Changes in hill vegetation revealed by selected British soils

INTRODUCTION Plant pollen in hill peat is preserved for long periods by the chemical environment, and it reveals the flora they carried. Hill soils include peaty gleyed podzols which also have acidic and preservative environments. Twelve inches of peat overlie a 6 inch thick, grey eluvial (A2)* horizon, leached of iron, over a thin, undulating iron pan on an ochreous illuvial (B2ir) horizon ,. Pollen analysis of these soils in South Wales has given a useful floral sequence,. The distribution of principal pollen species shows that grass (Gramineae) predominates in surface layers, reflecting present vegetation. Below, an increasing proportion of ericaceous (chiefly heather) pollen comes from a recent heathland. Lower down, Pteridophyte spores, chiefly Polypodium, increase. In the deepest soil layers oak (Quercus) pollen is abundant, and in some ericaceous pollen from an earlier heathland. This floral sequence is related to the archaeological time-scale using pollen analyses at archaeological sites,. The ericaceous maximum corresponds to Medieval times; the Polypodium maximum with early Roman and Iron Age times; the oak maximum with the Middle Bronze Age and the lower ericaceous maximum with Neolithic times. Before Neolithic times most soils in South Wales were insufficiently acid to preserve pollen, and there is no record of Mesolithic floral changes. In contrast, peat bogs record a longer floral history, but they are less representative of any particular terrain. Aspect and altitude influence the floral succession. Cold northeast facing slopes favour Ericaceae and birch (Betula) pollen production. Whereas Polypodium was very extensive across the S. Wales uplands, it was much less common at the highest and lowest altitudes. Oak predominates in lowland sites, where grass, heather and other non-tree pollens are uncommon. Hence, in a study of pollen in widely separated British soils it is advisable to keep the sampled environment as constant as possible, so that any differences in the floral sequence from place to place may be attributed chiefly to changes in latitude and distance from the sea. Local accumulations of grains over a pan, over flagstones occurring naturally, or in an archaeological structure, and the consistent correlation of the floral sequence with the archaeological time-scale, confirm that pollen does move down through a soil. Most pollen and spores are about the size of silt/fine sand particles (20-50(x International and U.S.D.A. scales, respectively), the specific gravity is near 1 and they should be easily moved by water flowing through soil pores. Soil particles of the same size are more dense and yet are readily moved in this way. Movement of pollen over the historical time-scale of 1-4,000 years is

Review of Elk Hills Oil Field, Kern County, California: ABSTRACT

The Elk Hills oil field, generally regarded as the third largest oil field in the United States, is in southwestern Kern County, California, on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. It is on a large surface anticline that extends into the valley from the Temblor Range on the west. Most of the oil is in lenticular sandstones of Miocene and Pliocene ages, and stratigraphic conditions control the position of the oil on the structure. The Elk Hills field is also Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1 and, for that reason, production is restricted. The field is a unitized operation of the U.S. Navy and Standard Oil Company of California. The Elk Hills filed has not been fully explored, but has recoverable reserves presently estimated at more than 1 billion bbl. End_of_Article - Last_Page 563------------

Semi-fossil Lichen Fungi in Scottish Hill Soils

RECENT investigations1 into the micromorphological features of hill soils in north-east Scotland have revealed the presence, within the soil profile, of what appear to be perithecia containing dark-coloured muriform spores. These perithecia are apparent in profiles from Meall-an-t-Slughain, Aberdeenshire (at heights of 2,050 ft. and 2,300 ft.), Ben Rinnes, Banffshire (2,500 ft.), and Morven Aberdeenshire (2,025 ft., 2,800 ft. (two) and 2,850 ft.). The profiles are developed on parent materials derived from both granite (Meall-an-t-Slughain and Ben Rinnes profiles) and basic igneous rocks (Morven profiles). Peat cover is either absent or amounts to no more than 2–3 in., except on one of the 2,800 ft. profiles on Morven, which has a peat cover 14 in. thick, the base of the peat being pollen dated within the Sub-Boreal period.

Gray Wooded Soils of the Black Hills of South Dakota

AbstractThe morphology, classification, and laboratory characteristics of the wooded soils of the Black Hills of South Dakota are reported. Field morphology studies involving parts of two summers tentatively established the classification of these soils in the Gray Wooded Soil Group. Paired profiles representing the central concept of the Gray Wooded group were sampled and laboratory characteristics determined. These soils resemble Gray Wooded soils reported for Canada, Montana, and the Northern Lake States. Additional paired profiles of giant or maximal Gray Wooded profiles and Gray Wooded intergrade profiles also were sampled and are characterized. A description of a pygmy or minimal Gray Wooded profile is described but was not sampled for analysis.

SOIL FERTILITY PROBLEMS IN TARANAKI

In this talk I intend to deal only with some of the major soils derived from volcanic ash, not with sand country or the hill soils derived from mudstone and sandstone. These volcanic soils of Taranaki suffer from two major deficiencies, phosphorus and potassium.

Researches on the Technical Improvement of Rice Culture on Ill-drained Fields : VI. Studies of the effects of hill soil put in rice field : (1) Effects of red colored hill soil on the crop by early transplanting

In order to know whether application of red colored hill soil to rice fields has good effects not only in the case of ordinary transplanting but in the case of early transplanting culture, and moreover to find the optimum quantity of nitrogenous fertilizers in the latter case, some experiments were carried out by the authors, the results obtained being as follows: [I] Effects of red colored hill soil put in, (a) A larger number of ears was obtained. (b) Good harvests were obtained. (c) The elongation of lower internodes were controlled. (d) Total nitrogen content in the plant decreased. (e) In consequence of the results (c) and (d), the plant became lodging resistant. The tendency above rnentioned was distinctly noticed especially in early transplanting. [II] Effects on early transplanted rice crop, (a) Decrease in a thousand grain weight of rice often liable to application of abundant nitrogenous fertilizers was checked by hill soil duplication. (b) A larger number of ears was obtained. [III] Effects on three kinds of ill-drained paddy fields which consist of mack, sandy soil and heavy clay, respectively, showed a similar tendency as above mentioned in all cases. From those facts there were elucidated good effects of red colored hill soil put in early transplanted rice fields under ill-drained condition. Crop damages frequently caused by heavy fertilizing may be thus controlled to some extent.

Biological studies of some tussock-grassland soils

Summary Earthworms were collected under tussock grassland (Festuca novae-zelandiae dominant) from a Taupo hill soil at Waiouru, a Tekoa steepland soil at Bealey and an Omarama steepland soil near Alexandra. Although the vegetation was similar at the three sites, geographical separation and differences in the history of the vegetation have been most important in influencing the earthworm fauna. Higher earthworm populations were observed beneath tussock plants than beneath shorter vegetation or bare ground between tussock plants. This is attributed to protection of the soil from frost by tussock plants. The constitution of the earthwonn fauna at each of the sites is compared with that of soils of adjacent sites; similarities and differences are noted and discussed.

HILL SOILS AND THEIR PRODUCTION POTENTIAL*

Grass and Forage ScienceVolume 13, Issue 3 p. 229-237 HILL SOILS AND THEIR PRODUCTION POTENTIAL* E. Crompton, E. Crompton University School of Agriculture, King's College, Newcastle upon TyneSearch for more papers by this author E. Crompton, E. Crompton University School of Agriculture, King's College, Newcastle upon TyneSearch for more papers by this author First published: September 1958 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.1958.tb00136.xCitations: 7 * Based on a paper read at the Winter Meeting of the British Grassland Society, London, 6.12.57. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume13, Issue3September 1958Pages 229-237 RelatedInformation

Measured movement along the surface trace of an active thrust fault in the Buena Vista Hills, Kern County, California

abstract For the past twenty-four years, measurements have been made of continuing movement on an active thrust fault in the Buena Vista Hills oil field in Kern County, California. Data are presented which show the rate and accumulated ground movement normal to the strike of the fault. Maximum accumulated movement between pairs of control points has been 1.637 feet, corresponding to an average rate of 0.068 feet per year.

Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Some Marine Pleistocene Deposits in Northwest Los Angeles Basin, California

Recent excavations made in the Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles County, California, have exposed fossiliferous marine Pleistocene strata. Two new formations occur in this area. The lower Pleistocene Anchor silt consists of 60 feet of soft buff silts, and is unconformably overlain by the upper Pleistocene Medill sand, consisting of 60 feet of grayish, loosely consolidated sand and gravel. Eighty-three species of fossils, mostly mollusks, are identified from five localities in the Anchor silt, and 21 species of mollusks are identified from a single locality in the Medill sand. The fauna of the Anchor silt probably lived offshore at a depth of 25-35 fathoms on a silty or muddy bottom, and in water considerably colder than that present today at this latitude and depth. The fauna of the Medill sand represents a warm bay habitat. The Anchor silt is faunally and lithologically similar to parts of the San Pedro and Timms Point formations at San Pedro, to small exposures of lower Pleistocene in the Pacific Palisades area, and to unnamed lower Pleistocene units in the Baldwin Hills. The Cheviot Hills are along the Newport-Inglewood uplift, 1½ miles southwest of the Beverly Hills oil field.

Radiostrontium in soil, grass, milk and bone in U.K.; 1956 results

The results of 90Sr analysis of soil, grass and sheep bone from twelve stations in England and Wales are given. The 90Sr in the top 4 in. of undisturbed soil in July 1956 ranged from 1·9 to 10·0 me/km 2, depending on the rainfall. The 90Sr activity of herbage and of sheep bone showed a wider range, samples from acid hill soils being relatively more active. Milk from Somerset had a median activity of 4·4 ,μμc 90Sr/g Ca in 1956, compared with 4·1 in 1955. Human-bone specimens obtained in 1956 showed 90Sr activity depending on age. The average level in children under 5 was 0·7 μμc 90Sr/g Ca and the average bone dose 2 mrad/year.

"Nieda" at Kujukuri Sea Coast and Its Technical Improvement (Preliminary report)

Deteriorated paddy fields of a peculiar type popularly known as Nieda exist widely in the districts of Kujukuri Coast, Chiba Prefecture, where abnormal retardation in the rice plant growth usually takes place early in mid-summer. The results of the authors investigations of the phenomena are as follows : 1) The surface of Nieda was covered by a sort of viscid mud, and water percolation was so poor that there were proved various products of soil reduction such as ferrous compounds, hydrogen sulfide and organic acids generally injurious to the plant accumulating and gradually being concentrated around the roots. 2) A symptom like Akagare was frequently observed on the rice plants grown in Nieda. True Akagare, however, is generally known as a symptom of potassium deficiency. As the plant cultured with Nieda soil was proved to have absorbed potassium normally, the symptom above mentioned should not directly be ascribed to potassium lack. 3) According to the results of the author's studies, the injury was supposed to be attributable to disturbance of normal aerobic respiration induced by absorption of ferrous compounds under the peculiar soil conditions, because the plants in Nieda were found to accumulate in their bodies abnormally large amounts of ferrous compounds. It was demonstrated, in fact, that Nieda soils could be improved very remakably by removing the viscid mud from their sufaces by means of supplying MgCl2 or by admixing with red-colored hill soils.

South Pyramid Hills Oil Field, Kern County, California: ABSTRACT

A general examination of the stratigraphy of the South Pyramid Hills oil field demonstrates that oil occurs at depths varying from 1,100 to 3,200 feet, in beds of middle Miocene and upper Eocene age. A detailed analysis of the stratigraphic and structural relationship indicates that the accumulation is effected by anticlinal folding in conjunction with faulting and unconformable overlap. These latter features, although responsible for the presence of the several producing zones, present difficult problems affecting the economic development of the field. End_of_Article - Last_Page 186------------

Castaic Hills Oil Field, Los Angeles County, California: ABSTRACT

The Castaic Hills field is located in Los Angeles County northwest of, and adjacent to, the Honor Rancho field. It is believed to be completely separate from the latter field both from a structural and stratigraphic standpoint although only one location separates the two areas. The field was discovered by Ted Sterling, operator for Paul W. Trousdale's Rynne-Fisher well No. 1 (now Continental Oil Company's well), which was completed on September 13, 1951, from the interval 4,632-4,697 feet, flowing 233 b/d, 33° gravity, 0.1% cut, 27/64^Prime bean, 90# T.P., 485# C.P., and 185 MCF. As of September 30, 1952, 29 wells have been completed in the area, 5 wells abandoned, and several wells are still drilling. The stratigraphy in the field is characterized by the great thickness of conglomerate and abrupt facies changes. The general geologic section above the basement granite consists of the following. 1. 1,400-2,700 feet of non-marine Saugus (Pleisto-Pliocene) conglomerate, sands, and clays 2. 1,400-1,000 feet of marine Pico with possibly some Repetto at base (Pliocene) conglomerate, sands, and siltstones 3. 6,500± feet of Modelo upper and middle Miocene sands, conglomerate, and shales, of which there are: a. 50-200 feet of Delmontian conglomerate and siltstone b. 1,700-2,500 feet of upper Mohnian conglomerate and sand c. 4,500± feet of lower Mohnian shales, conglomerates, and thin sands The producing sand (Sterling zone) is 30-220 feet thick and occurs in the uppermost part of the lower Mohnian or in basal upper Mohnian. Tar sands occur in the Saugus and Pico formations. The field is on the steeply dipping south flank of the east-west Loma Verde (Devils Canyon) anticline, the surface axis of which is ½ mile north. The discovery well was drilled on the assumption that sands coming up toward the north on this flank would either pinch out or be faulted in such a manner that north and west closure would occur. It was expected that east closure should be provided by the large northwest-trending San Gabriel fault. This is in general what has been proved, although numerous faults made complications. It now appears that the closure on the west is caused by facies change, closure on the east by faults probably related to the San Gabriel fault, and on the north by both faulting and facies change, although this is not definitely determined. The field contai s fault blocks which affect accumulation. The field, which is producing about 4,340 b/d (August average), is composed of about 280 proved acres with possibly 50 additional definitely proved acres to be drilled. However, with very little End_Page 185------------------------------ imagination, one can visualize the field being twice its present size. Also there are possibilities of deeper producing sand or sands being present and the shallow tar zones being produced. End_of_Article - Last_Page 186------------

Experimental Production Projects and Exploratory Drilling at Elk Hills

Abstract The termination of the recent war marked a major change in the oil-fieldoperations at Elk Hills. Production was greatly curtailed, various experimentalproduction projects were started, and a long-range exploratory program wasinaugurated. Production was reduced from the wartime peak of 65,000 bbl per dayto the current rate of about 8000 bbl per day in order to maintain an availablesource of crude that can be drawn upon during a national emergency. Theexisting production rate is deemed essential to carry on the experimentalproduction projects. These projects are being conducted to determine the bestmethods and means of maintaining the Reserve, shut in; but in a state ofreadiness to produce the maximum quantity of oil in the most expeditiousmanner. Projects now being investigated include:protection of surfaceequipment;repair of wells that might damage the reservoir;gasinjection;water encroachment,gravity drainage. An exploratory program is being carried on to determine the amount ofrecoverable oil in the unexplored portions of the Reserve. The Shallow-zoneexploration is practically completed, but owing to the complexity of theStevens structure and the magnitude of the oil discoveries in the Stevens, exploration will probably continue in that zone for another two years. Introduction Summary of Development History of Elk Hills Although a detailed history of Elk Hills oil field is presented in variouspublications, a summary of its unusual development and production history willbe given in order that the present problems may be more readily understood. The first development that resulted in commercial production was in thecentral part of the Reserve. The first well, Hay No. I, in sec 36-R, wascompleted in January 1919, and was soon followed by 47 others in the samegeneral area. It is commonly referred to as the Hay-Carman area and was shut inin stages from 1925 to 1934 as a result of litigation regarding the title tothe land. Not being highly productive, only about 6 1/2 million barrels of oilwith a large volume of gas was produced from the area prior to theshutdown. T.P. 2404

Recent Development at Guijarral Hills: ABSTRACT

The Guijarral Hills oil field, located on the Coalinga anticline midway between Pleasant Valley and Kettleman Hills, was discovered by the Barnsdall Oil Company on September 19, 1948. The discovery well produced from the Leda sand. Since then there have been 36 Leda sand wells completed in the field on a 20-acre spacing program. The development has demonstrated that the accumulation is stratigraphic and only the updip or northwest limit of the field has been located. At present, approximately 800 acres of Leda sand production have been proved. On April 28, 1949, a new zone was discovered by the Barnsdall Oil Company with the completion of Allison A73-34-2 in a sand in the Basal Temblor which was logged approximately 500 feet above the Leda sand. To date, 11 wells have been completed in this zone on a 20-acre spacing program. Indications are that the accumulation is stratigraphic. Approximate limits of production have been defined only on the southeast and at present about 360 acres may be considered as proved. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2062------------

Oil Production from Fractured Rocks on West Side San Joaquin Valley: ABSTRACT

There are three known areas on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley where oil is produced exclusively from fractured rocks. These are in the South Belridge, Elk Hills, and Sunset oil fields. In each accumulation the structure is anticlinal; the fractured rocks are shale of upper Miocene age. The physical characteristics of the fractured rocks are not well known generally. The upper Miocene contains considerable brittle siliceous shales on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley which are known to have favorable reservoir characteristics in some places where tested. The distribution of these members is discussed. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2239------------