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Letter BGeology glossary

Buried Soil

Buried soils, or paleosols, are ancient soil horizons that have been preserved beneath layers of sediment or volcanic deposits. These soils provide valuable information about past climates, vegetation, and environmental conditions, serving as important markers in stratigraphy and the study of Earth’s history.

Geological layers showing sandstone, paleosoil, and marble breccia (buried soil)
Fig. 1 Geological layers showing sandstone, paleosoil, and marble breccia (buried soil)

Source Retallack, G. J. (2001). Soils of the Past: An Introduction to Paleopedology. Wiley-Blackwell.

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