Duricrust
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Duricrust refers to a thin hard layer on or near the surface of soil, usually a few millimeters to a few centimeters thick.
It is a general term (not to be confused with duripan) for a zone of chemical precipitation and hardening formed at or near the surface of sedimentary bodies through pedogenic and (or) non-pedogenic processes.
It is typically formed by the accumulation of soluble minerals deposited by mineral-bearing waters that move upward, downward, or laterally by capillary action, commonly assisted in arid settings by evaporation. (Dixon, 1994; Woolnough, 1930; NADMSC SLTT, 2004)
Duricrust is one of the things studied during Mars missions, because it may help prove the planet once had more water. Minerals often found in duricrust include silica, iron, calcium, and gypsum.
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