Late-Holocene soil toposequence in Stroud Basin, Central Wind River Mountains, western Wyoming

Abstract

Mahaney, William C. & Sanmugadas, K.: Late-Holocene soil toposequence in Stroud Basin, Central Wind River Mountains, western Wyoming. Geografisk Tidsskrift 89: 58–65. Copenhagen 1989.

Few differences are registered between the high and slope soil members of the toposequence, while several textural and chemical changes occur in the low soil member. High amounts of finegrained material, higher organic matter, and nitrogen, are found here. Clay mineral data suggest that most vermiculite is pedogenic. The data for extractable iron show that Fed and Feo form most rapidly in the low soil member, and some organically-bound iron moves laterally through the toposequence into the low soil member. These data, plus that for an older toposequence of early- Holocene age (8000 yr BP), from the area show that considerable weathering and lateral translocation occur in soils of 3000 yr BP age in this middle latitude alpine environment.

Keywords:

• Soils
• toposequence
• Wyoming