New Zealand Andisol
New Zealand Andisol Among the many kinds of parent material within which soils are formed, volcanic ash is one of the most interesting. Volcanic ash frequently has special mineralogy that weathers to soils with unusual characteristics. These are not readily visible in the morphology of the profile and must be determined in a laboratory.

What is evident in this profile is the dark A horizon, tan colored profile and stratification. The tan or buff color is mostly the color of the original minerals. There has been little weathering in this young soil. The stratification indicates that more than one volcanic ash deposit occupies this site and that the soil will, over time, develop in both. Although the lower third of the photograph looks like a buried soil, it is not. It is simply darker colored volcanic ash.

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