I am working in an area with no rock outcrops and highly characterized by deep sandy soils with a depth ranging from 0 to 1m below surface in some areas. In some areas I have hard soil crusts mainly composed of clay, loam and sandy soils. My area is also flat with homogeneous terrain.
Dear Ngula,
Your question is not correct, because lithology refers to the rock type.
So I will reformulate the question in this way:
"Can soil type helps to determine subsurface geology?".
Response yes, indeed if you don't have any rock outcrop in your study area, the only option is to make some soil survey by hand augering . You should especially focus on the C horizon, wich are the closest to the original fresh rock, so to the subsurface lithology. I.e, if your C horizon is sandy, the lithology is sandstone. If your C horizon is clayey, the lithology is probalby claystone, or marls. With experience on geology, observation of some specific feaures of teh C horizon can hlep you to determine the original fresh rock in a finest way, but it necessities good knowledge(typical fossils,sedimentology features) of the original fresh rock.
The problem is that in your country, soil are very deep and reachnig C horizon can be really hard.
Best regards
Have a look to these publications:
Article The Use of Soil Surveys to Aid in Geologic Mapping with an E...
Article The potential of soil survey as a tool for surface geologica...
Dear Mr. Niipele,
I agree with what has been told by Mr. Juilleret as far as the pedological approach is concerned. For a better insight into the subsoil or geological subcrop you need also some information on the landscape and you are forced to integrate geomorphological experience. This is especially valid when it comes to draw boundaries between the various lithological units underneath your soil system. Is it homogeneous? Is there creep and flow of substrate? What can we distill out of the drainage system? The questions are manifold and refers to a question only recently be raised in terms of Quaternary geology. In this part you must be very open-minded and far-sighted and as a geologist you cannot only have a keen eye on the lithology you are targeting upon but you need to harness the various disciplines to their full extent.
I would like to direct your thoughts also to handheld devices such as gamma spectrometry and kappameter-based magnetic measurements. They may be very helpful in the field to get an idea of the subsoil geological units and help delineate them.
I wish you much success
H.G.Dill
Dear Ngula, The previous contributions of colleagues are very relevant. As an example of what Mr. Dill proposes I am please to provide you this article, which combines field survey and remote sensing data to decipher the relations between lithology and surface landforms. Best wishes, Anicet
Dear Pr Dill,
thank's for the report, very interresting and in line with the classification of C horizon on which I am working also.
Please have a look to this publication, your feedbacks are welcome.
Regards
Article Mind the gap: A classification system for integrating the su...
Hi Ngula,
In addition to the above try also the traditional augering (hand auger or powered) especially where your sand is not too crusted and try to log the chips. 0-1m depth is not too deep with a little help you should be able to hit at least the top of the weathered bedrock.
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