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Earth pillar formation on the Mountain Pine Ridge, Belize
Author(s) -
Francek Mark
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290130208
Subject(s) - pebble , ridge , geology , pillar , erosion , earth (classical element) , geomorphology , geochemistry , paleontology , physics , structural engineering , engineering , mathematical physics
The roadcuts of Belize's Mountain Pine Ridge feature numerous coarsely textured earth pillars less than 10 cm in height. Preferential impregnation of iron occurs over a buried pebble resulting in a dripline. The higher concentration of iron along the buried pebble's dripline is later oxidized and exposed to the surface by rainsplash erosion. For slopes greater than five degrees, the intensity of sheetwash erosion is great enough to remove pillars. Earth pillar genesis thus seems a function of laterization, slope angle, and sheetwash intensity.
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