The fractal dimension index as applied to the description of the variable thickness of humus horizons on dumps of various ages

It is shown that the thickness of humus horizons developing on dumps of var ious ages may be characterized by the fractal dimension index. Its value is found to grow in older dumps, which may be interpreted as the complication of humus-horizon boundaries. It is supposed that the fractal dimension ind ex increases up to a certain maximum as the soil age increases. After this, it should decrease. This index can hardly be applied to describe the bound aries between other soil horizons, since it requires a specific definition of the terms a boundary and a horizon.