Soil maps analysis to identify the role of the tectonic regime on saprolite permeability regional distribution.

For applied geology, e.g., geotechnics or hydrogeology, it is of prime inte rest to know the spatial distribution of the saprolite permeability. This s tudy focuses on the role of the tectonic regime on saprolite permeability r egional distribution. Comparison of data concerning the uplift regime and s oil organisation data from several pedological maps of the Armorican Massif (France) showed that blocks in relative uplift were characterized by a low proportion of hydromorphic soils, whereas a high proportion marked blocks in relative downlift. Such differences can be related to the denudation reg ime, which affects the saprolite permeability. (C) 2000 Academic des scienc es / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.