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The Influence of Wind-Blown Material on the Soils of Massachusetts¹

ABSTRACT

Most of the soil profiles of Massachusetts exhibit a surficial mantle of material that is genetically different from the underlying geologic formation. This surficial deposit exhibits a high content of very fine sand and silt and a very low content of the coarse fractions and clay. The deposit is relatively uniform in texture and mineralogical composition throughout its entire depth, irrespective of the underlying geologic formation. Results of field observations and mineralogical and mechanical analysis, give convincing evidence that the surficial mantle is of wind-blown origin. Although this surficial mantle is not universal in its occurrence, most of the agricultural soils of the state are either entirely of wind-blown origin or strongly influenced by such material.

¹ Contribution No. 881 Massachusetts Agr. Exp. Sta., Amherst, Mass. Presented before Division V. Soil Science Society of America, Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 20, 1952.

² Head of Agronomy Dept.; assistant professor of geology; in structor, Agronomy Dept.

Received for publication March 13, 1953.