Geology of soils. Their evolution, classification and uses / Геология почв. Их эволюция, классификация и использование

This book presents a discussion of soils in terms of three different discipHnes geology, soil science, and engineering. The presentation necessarily has a geological emphasis, for that has been my main field. It is hoped, however, that the approach taken here will lead to increased interdisciplinary study, and thus to a better understanding of the ground around us. For too long, the specialists —geologists, soil scientists, and engineers—have worked each in his own cell without the benefit of the knowledge that the others could provide. My interest in surface deposits and soils was stimulated by two experiences during World War II. The first was when I became acquainted with valley fills in the Basin and Range Province, while studying deposits of bedded manganese. The first experience made me realize how little was known about unconsolidated deposits, because geologists had given so much emphasis to the hard rocks. The second came when I was Assistant Chief, and later Chief, of the Military Geology Unit of the United States Geological Survey, and had the opportunity to work with teams of soil scientists, plant geographers, hydrologists, and engineers, as well as geologists. My interest in mixing the disciplines became further stimulated after the war while working in the Lake Bonneville Basin, where I developed an appreciation of the stratigraphic importance of the pre-Wisconsinan weathering and soils. This book is the result of those and other experiences. <...>