A WRB-based buried paleosol classification

Micromorphological approach to polycyclic pedogenesis on the Messak Settafet plateau (central Sahara): Formative processes and palaeoenvironmental significance

“…Generally speaking, paleosols can hardly be classified with accuracy (Nettleton et al, 1998;Krasilnikov and Calderón, 2006) according to the available soil nomenclature codes (e.g., FAO-UNESCO, 1971;FAO, 1998;Soil Survey Staff, 1999, 2010WRB, 2006), and specific pedologic parameters should be considered in classification (James et al, 1998;Nettleton et al, 2000;Krasilnikov and Calderón, 2006). In fact, paleosol classification requires the identification of those key attributes in modern soils with preservation potential following burial and diagenesis; but most of the key soil attributes have a low probability of being preserved without major modification or destruction (James et al, 1998).…”

Interpretation of pre-AD 472 Roman soils from physicochemical and mineralogical properties of buried tephric paleosols at Somma Vesuviana ruin, southwest Italy

“…Soil descriptions followed FAO (2006). Buried pedons E1, E2, and F1 were classified using the World Reference Base (WRB; FAO-ISRIC-ISSS, 1998)-derived classification for buried paleosols (Krasilnikov and Calderon, 2006), and 'equivalent' classes in Soil Taxonomy (not strictly appropriate because depths of burial exceed 2 m) were estimated (Soil Survey Staff, 2006). Pedon W1 was classified using Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 2006) and WRB (2006).…”

“…Although classification in Soil Taxonomy strictly is inappropriate because of their depth of burial below 2 m, pedons E1 and E2 would likely be Vitrandic Xerorthents if at the modern land surface (Soil Survey Staff, 2006). On the basis of Krasilnikov and Calderon (2006), the WRB-based buried paleosol classification system, pedons E1 and E2 are Archaeosols because they contain layers ≥20 cm thick of artificial or transported soil materials.…”

“…F1 would probably be classified as a Typic Vitrixerand if it were at the modern land surface (Soil Survey Staff, 2006). Based on Krasilnikov and Calderon (2006), F1 is an Infraandosol by virtue of having either a vitric or an infraandic horizon within 25 cm from the paleosol surface, and having no diagnostic horizons other than an infracambric, duric, infrahistic, or negroandic horizon.…”

Late Pleistocene relic Ultisols and Alfisols in an alluvial fan complex in coastal Tuscany

“…Conversely, this definition is of little use for buried soils: base saturation (BS), the main diagnostic character for Ultisols, rarely survives burial, and is unsuitable for buried palaeosol classification (Yaalon, 1971;Krasilnikov and Calderón, 2006).…”