A Guide for Using Soil and Weathering Profile Data in Chronosequence Studies of the Coastal Plain of the Eastern United States U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1589-D Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions on ordering publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the cur­ rent-year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey." Prices of available U.S. Geological Sur­ vey publications released prior to the current year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List." Publications that are listed in various U.S. Geological Survey catalogs (see back inside cover) but not listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List" are no longer available. 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E-146,701 C St. Maps For maps, address mail orders to U.S. Geological Survey, Map Distribution Maps Federal Center, Box 25286 Maps may ^ purchased over the counter at the U.S. Geologi- Denver, CO 80225 cal Survey offices where books are sold (all addresses in above list) and at the following Geological Survey offices: Residents of Alaska may order maps from - ROLLA, Missouri-1400 Independence Rd. Alaska Distribution Section, U.S. Geological Survey, . DENVER, Colorado-Map Distribution, Bldg. 810, Federal New Federal Building-Box 12 Center 101 Twelfth Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701 . FAIRBANKS, Alaska-New Federal Bldg., 101 Twelfth Ave. Chapter D A Guide for Using Soil and Weathering Profile Data in Chronosequence Studies of the Coastal Plain of the Eastern United States By H.W. MARKEWICH, M.J. PAVICH, M.J. MAUSBACH, R.G. JOHNSON, and V.M. GONZALEZ Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service Physical and chemical data from Chronosequence studies in the Coastal Plain of the Eastern United States are summarized and interpreted, and suggestions are made as to the data needed for a nonstatistical use of soil and weathering profiles in determining surface ages U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1589 PEDOLOGIC STUDIES IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES: RELATIONS TO GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MANUEL LUJAN, Jr., Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1989 For sale by the Books and Open-File Reports Section U.S. Geological Survey Federal Center, Box 25425 Denver, CO 80225 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data A guide for using soil and weathering profile data in chronosequence studies of the Coastal Plain of the Eastern United States (Pedologic studies in the Eastern United States, relations to geology ; ch. D) (U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 1589-D) Bibliography: p. Supt. of Docs, no.: I 19.3:1589-D 1. Soil chronosequences Research United States Technique Hand­ books, manuals, etc. 2. Soils United States Analysis Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Markewich, Helaine W. II. Series: U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 1589-D. QE75.B9 no. 1589-D. 557.3s [551.7'00974] 88-607915 [S599.A1] PREFACE Some geologic investigations of Quaternary deposits, especially in the contermi­ nous United States, have attempted to use relative degrees of weathering and soil formation to establish chronosequences of glacial and (or) fluvial landforms. Most studies have been in the glacial terrane of the midcontinent and the Western United States. Few such studies have been conducted in the Eastern United States, especially in the unglaciated Middle Atlantic and Southeastern States. From 1979 to 1984, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service conducted cooperative regional studies of the relations between soils and geology in the Middle Atlantic and Southeastern States. The primary goal of the studies was to determine if soil properties could be used to estimate ages of associated landforms. Coral, wood fragments, and peat were sampled from constructional landforms of fluvial and marine origin in order to estimate ages by isotopic analyses; these ages were then related to regional biostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic correlations. Specific site investigations were conducted on Pliocene to Holocene marine and fluvial terraces in the Atlantic and eastern Gulf Coastal Plains and the Appalachian Piedmont. Soils on granite, schist, and quartzite parent rocks of the Appalachian Piedmont were sampled to test the use of soil properties as indicators of soil age. Each chapter of this bulletin series examines the relation of soils to geology in a specific geographic area. The cooperative study involved research scientists from both agencies and field personnel from State offices of the Soil Conservation Service. Responsibility for sample analysis was divided between the Department of Agriculture's National Soil Survey Laboratory in Lincoln, Nebr., and the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Va. This report was prepared by scientists from both agencies who participated in specific site investi­ gations or in studies of pedogenic processes. Preface III CONTENTS Preface III Abstract Dl Introduction Dl Acknowledgments D2 Geologic and Physiographic Setting D2 Climate D5 Weathering and Pedogenesis D5 Weathering D5 Pedogenesis D9 Field and Laboratory Methods Dll Discussion of Data D12 Data Comparison D12 Weathering and Pedogenesis D14 Parent Material D14 Geomorphic Position D17 Climate D19 Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy D22 Conclusions D22 References Cited D23 Appendix D27 FIGURES 1. Maps showing: A. Physiographic provinces of the Middle Atlantic and Southeastern United States and subdivisions of the Piedmont lowlands D3 B. Areas of soil sampling on a base map of major rivers of the Middle Atlantic and Southeastern United States D4 2A, 2B. Maps showing: A. Daily maximum, average, minimum, and extreme temperatures for Janu­ ary and July for the Eastern United States D6 B. Mean annual precipitation for the Eastern United States D8 2C. Plots showing annual soil temperature and precipitation for sites in Maryland, North Carolina, and Georgia and soil water balance for a site in North Carolina D9 ID. Map showing areal variation of average annual rainfall and runoff in Geor­ gia, 1941-70 DIG 3-8. Summary plots showing: 3. Depth of oxidation versus age of morphostratigraphic unit Dll 4. Thickness of solum versus age of unit D13 5. Thickness of argillic horizon versus age of unit D14 6. Clay mass versus age of unit D15 7. Rubification versus age of unit D16 8. Percentage of (Fe2O3+Al2O3)/SiO2 versus age of unit D17 Contents 9. Summary plots of data from sola developed in 200-ka-old units showing: A. Thickness of solum versus maximum percentage of (Fe2O3 +Al2O3)/ SiO2 D18 B. Clay mass versus maximum percentage of (Fe2O3 +Al2O3)/SiO2 D19 10. X-ray diffraction patterns showing clay mineral data for: A. Pleistocene-age soils developed on marine terraces on the Delmarva Peninsula and fluvial marine terraces of the Rappahannock River in Virginia D20 B. Pliocene-age soil from Augusta, Ga. D21 C. Holocene-age soil developed in the Alabama Coastal Plain D21 VI Contents PEDOLOGIC STUDIES IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES: RELATIONS TO GEOLOGY A Guide for Using Soil and Weathering Profile Data in Chronosequence Studies of the Coastal Plain of the Eastern United States By H.W. Markewich,1 M.J. Pavich,2 M.J. Mausbach,3 R.G. Johnson,3 and V.M. Gonzalez2 Abstract profiles sampled per surface, and the number and type of analyses performed. There is an inverse relation between Data from soil and weathering profiles developed on soil (surface) age and pedon variability, the younger constructional landforms in the Coastal Plain province of surfaces showing more variability in pedon characteristics the Eastern United States indicate that there are positive than the older surfaces do.