Genesis of Lamellae in Sandy Soils of the Northern Highland Region in Wisconsin.

The texture, mineralogy, and topography of select sandy soils in Northern Wisconsin were examined to determine possible pathways for lamellae genesis in these soils.  Lamellae are defined as thin (<5mm) layers of clay often located in the lower solum.  Common genesis methods often explored have a base in formation in-situ or deposition.  Lamellae located on outwash terraces and outwash plains were examined.  Although the outwash material consists of coarser materials, clay particles could have translocated further down into the subsoil and settle, forming lamellic deposits.  Topographic factors may also contribute to lamellae formation; well drained areas have more visible lamellae formation compared to depression areas.  Preliminary results indicate that lamellae were not detected in a soil profile where the subsoil was >10% particles coarser than particles within the sand size range.  The lack of lamellae movement may have been caused by properties of sieving, wetting front from a rising or lowering water table.  However, clay particles could have come from alternative sources during the outwash deposition due to deposition, for example, to erosive processes that transported clay particles from an external source.  Future research will use textural analysis and mineralogy identification through the use of an X-Ray diffractometry to indicate if clay was translocated or deposited.