RECOGNITION OF NOOGENIC SOIL MATERIALS IN CLASSIFYING MINE SOILS

摘要

Proposals for a separate order of Noosols have been advanced to include soils where anthropogeomorphic processes predominate. Although a number of soil series for mine soils are established in the United States, these soils have not been fully incorporated in the U.S.D.A. taxonomic system. Problems in separating mine soils from "natural" soils remain, and these soils are inevitably placed in Entisols (Orthents or Arents). Proposals for recognizing a separate suborder of Spolents have not been approved, while attempts to distinguish mine soils at the subgroup level (using dominant lithology) seem inconsistent with family criteria. Recognition of a separate suborder (Spolnos) in Noosols to accommodate mine soils is discussed, and proposals to define noogenic materials using field criteria are presented as a basis for distinguishing other suborders. Provisional classes for spolic materials based on dominant lithology are proposed for loamy- skeletal families in Spolnos. Use is made of the so-called clastic ratio in distinguishing relative abundance of rock types as an aid in reclamation and management. Additional characterization of spolic materials will be required to recognize other types of spolic materials, and eventually it may be necessary to introduce unique families to accommodate mine soils.