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Loess in the Southern Mississippi Valley: Identification and Distribution of the Loess Sheets
Author(s) -
Wascher H. L.,
Humbert R. P.,
Cady J. G.
Publication year - 1948
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1948.036159950012000c0089x
Subject(s) - loess , agriculture , citation , distribution (mathematics) , archaeology , division (mathematics) , geography , library science , geology , mathematics , computer science , geomorphology , mathematical analysis , arithmetic
C has long been recognized as an important soilforming material. Its identification, distribution, thickness, degree of weathering, and soil developmental features are of interest to soil scientists, geologists, and ecologists, as well as all those concerned with the use and productivity of land. The purpose of this investigation of the loess in the southern Mississippi Valley was (a) to determine the field and laboratory characteristics of the loess; (b) to measure loess thickness; (c) to determine possible relationships between the development and distribution of soils and the distribution of loess; and (d) to secure information which might lead to a better understanding of the relationship of the loess deposits and soils developed from loess in the south. ern Mississippi Valley to those of the northern Mississippi Valley. Much of the background for these studies grew out of similar work carried on in Illinois as reported by R. S. Smith, et al (21 ) in 1935 and by G. D. Smith (20) in 1942. There is general though not complete agreement among soil scientists and geologists that loess is a wind-deposited silt. Lowe (n) found that south of Vicksbufg loess capped all of the hills to a thickness of 25 to 30 feet next to the river and thinned rapidly to the east. He stated that it "is overlaid by a few feet of brown loam which may be the weathered surface of the loess." Shimek (19) found that all snail shells remaining in loess were from terrestrial species which were the same as now live in wooded regions. He concluded loess to be of "aeolian origin, deposited principally in forests." Emerson (3), Hobbs (7), Mellen (16), Savage (18), Smith, et al. (21), Vestal (23), and many others have concluded that loess is wind deposited. Definitions requiring loess to be calcareous do not appear to be valid. Loessial material may be derived from sources containing no carbonates. Also, as pointed out by Smith (20), weathering during the period of deposition might remove all free carbonates as rapidly as the loess was laid down. Russell (17) has presented the theory that loess has developed by down-slope creep, sorting and concentration of particles of silt size, and concentration of carbonates. PROCEDURE