Paleosol classification: Problems and solutions

Paleosols are soils that formed on landscapes of the geologic past. Three k inds exist - buried, exhumed, and relict. To help reconstruct paleoenvironm ents and for ease of comparison, we suggest a property-based classification system linked to genetic processes. We use enduring properties because alt eration of paleosols following burial is common. Morphological properties s uch as horizonation, soil fabric, root and worm casts, and redoximorphic fe atures are resistant to alteration and thus are valuable as criteria. Field -observable and micromorphological properties, degree of weathering, and pr oportion of resistant minerals are also useful as criteria for paleosol ord ers. Total chemical analysis provides a proxy measure for base saturation a nd clay mineralogy. We use proxy criteria to help classify paleosols that h ave changed markedly or have been lithified during or after burial. To an e arlier version of the system, we add two new orders and include buried, rel ict, lithified, and exhumed units at the suborder level. Our system clearly separates paleosol taxon names from those of all ground soils. We use the prescript paleo- at the order level, and kryptic to designate the buried, e nduric to designate the relict, lithic to designate the lithified, and emer gent to designate the exhumed paleosol suborders. We use prescript modifier s to describe the physical characteristics of the paleosols and postscripts for parent material origin and the extensiveness of the paleosol landscape . We present data and classify a number of paleosols as examples of the sys tem. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.