Remember Caliche
Caliche Technical Terms
Caliche: A general term for a prominent zone of secondary carbonate accumulation in surficial materials in warm, subhumid to arid areas. Caliche is formed by both geologic and pedologic processes. Finely crystalline calcium carbonate forms a nearly continuous surface-coating and void-filling medium in geologic (parent) materials. Cementation ranges from weak in non-indurated forms to very strong in types that are indurated. Other minerals (carbonates, silicate, sulfate) may be present as accessory cements. Most petrocalcic and some calcic horizons are caliche. HP