Abstract
The aim of this work was to perform a baseline study about pedologic components of the geomorphic surfaces of different origins in a sector of the Cerro Solo uranium ore deposit , situated in the arid central region of the province of Chubut , Argentina . This contribution was requested by the National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA). The geomorphological units identified in the study area were: (1) Exhumed planation surfaces , composed of rounded hills of mesosiliceous-basic volcanic rocks of Middle Jurassic age ; (2) Pedisediments , consisting of four Early Pleistocene alluvial terrace levels; (3) Pediment association levels carved on the continental Cretaceous sediments ; (4) Alluvial fan relicts , with three geomorphic surfaces; (5) Modern alluvial fans , composed of two coalescent alluvial fans , and (6) Alluvial plains and associated wetlands (locally known as mallines). The latter are located in restricted areas where the water table is discharged at the thalweg sectors of the channels. The soil parent materials are free of carbonates (e.g., alluvial origin) and their origin could be allochthonous, mainly by aeolian influx . These soils were classified as Calcids soil suborder , and their differences are due to the different development degree of calcretization and polygenesis . The soils developed on pediments have a varied morphology and soil types depending on the age of geomorphic surface and the degree of polygenesis , this last resulting from the alternation of morphogenesis periods with pedogenic periods . The soils more developed were classified as Natrargids and Haplargids , whereas the oldest are truncated and were classified as Haplocalcids . The soils of the younger level were classified as Torriorthens . The soils formed on alluvial plains were classified as Torrifluvents .
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Acknowledgements
This research project has been funded by the National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Agreement CNEA-CONICET S/RP 303/11). The authors would like to thank the helpful reviews of Dr. Jorge Rabassa and Dr. Andrés Bilmes which improved the final version of this manuscript.
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Bouza, P.J., Saín, C., Videla, L., Dell’Arciprete, P., Cortés, E., Rua, J. (2017). Soil–Geomorphology Relationships in the Pichiñán Uraniferous District, Central Region of Chubut Province, Argentina. In: Rabassa, J. (eds) Advances in Geomorphology and Quaternary Studies in Argentina. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54371-0_3
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