- Caliche (mineral)
Caliche is a hardened deposit of
calcium carbonate . This calcium carbonate cements together other materials, including gravel, sand, clay, and silt. It is found inaridisol andmollisol soil orders. Caliche occurs worldwide, generally inarid orsemi-arid regions, including in central and westernAustralia , in theKalahari Desert , in the High Plains of the western USA, and in theSonoran Desert . Caliche is also known ashardpan , calcrete, kankar (in India), orduricrust . The term "caliche" is Spanish and is originally from the Latin "calx", meaning lime.Caliche is generally light colored but can range from white to light pink to reddish-brown, depending on the impurities present. It is generally found on or near the surface, but it can be found in deeper subsoil deposits as well. The layers can vary from a few inches to feet thick, and multiple layers can exist in a single location.
In northern
Chile andPeru , caliche refers to thenitrate salt deposits of theAtacama Desert . Caliche can also refer to various clayey deposits in Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Colombia. In addition, it has been used to describe some forms ofquartzite ,bauxite ,kaolinite ,laterite ,chalcedony ,opal , andsoda niter .Similar material, but composed of
calcium sulfate rather thancalcium carbonate , is calledgypcrust or gypcrete ("Gyp-Crete " is also a trademarked brand name).How it forms
Caliche generally forms when minerals are leached from the upper layer of the soil (the
A horizon ) and accumulate in the next layer (theB horizon ), at depths of approximately 3 to 10 feet under the surface. Caliche generally consists of carbonates in semiarid regions, while in arid regions, less soluble minerals will form caliche layers after all the carbonates have been leached from the soil. The calcium carbonate that is deposited accumulates, first forming grains, then small clumps, then a discernible layer, and finally a thicker, solid bed. As the caliche layer forms, the layer gradually becomes deeper, eventually moving into theparent material , which lies under the upper soil horizons.However, caliche can also form in other ways. It can form when water rises through
capillary action . In an arid region, rainwater will sink into the ground very quickly. Later, as the surface dries out, the water below the surface will rise, carrying dissolved minerals from lower layers upward with it. This water movement forms a caliche that tends to grow thinner and branch out as it nears the surface. Plants can contribute to the formation of caliche as well. The plant roots take up water throughtranspiration , leaving behind the dissolved calcium carbonate, which precipitates to form caliche. Caliche can also form on outcrops of porous rocks or in rock fissures where water is trapped and evaporates. In general, caliche deposition is a slow process, but if enough moisture is present in an otherwise arid site, it can accumulate fast enough to block a drain pipe.While the formation of other caliches is relatively well understood, the origin of Chilean caliche is not known definitively. One possibility is that the deposits were formed when a prehistoric inland sea evaporated. Another theory is that it was deposited due to weathering of the
Andes .Economic uses
Building applications
Caliche is used in construction worldwide. The caliche reserves in the
Llano Estacado inTexas can be used in the manufacture ofPortland cement ; the caliche meets the chemical composition requirements and has been used as a principal raw material in Portland cement production in at least one Texas plant. Where the calcium carbonate content is over 80 %, caliche can also be fired and used as a source of lime in areas, which can then be used for soil stabilization.When mixed with small amounts of either pozzolan or Portland cement, caliche can also be used as a building material that will exceed the
building code requirements for unfiredmasonry materials. For example, caliche was used to build some of the Mayan buildings in theYucatán Peninsula inMexico . A dormitory inIngram, Texas and a demonstration building inCarrizo Springs, Texas for theUnited States Department of Energy were also built using caliche as part of studies by the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems.In many areas, caliche is also used for road construction, either as a surfacing material or, more commonly, as a base material. It is one of the most common road materials used in southern
Africa . Caliche is widely used as a base material because it continues to accumulate and gain strength over time.ugar refining
A nearly pure source of calcium carbonate is necessary to refine
sugar . It must contain at least 95 % calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and have a low magnesium content. In addition, the material must meet certain physical requirements so it does not break down when burned. Although caliche does not generally meet all of the requirements for sugar refining, it is used in areas where another source of calcium carbonate, such as limestone, is not present. While the use of caliche necessitatesbeneficiation in order to meet the requirements, its use can still be significantly cheaper than shipping in the needed limestone.Chilean caliche
In Chile, the nitrate salt deposits in the Atacama Desert are also referred to as caliche. These deposits are the largest known natural source of nitrates in the world, containing up to 25 %
sodium nitrate and 3 %potassium nitrate , as well as [iodate minerals] ,sodium chloride ,sodium sulfate , andsodium borate (borax). The caliche beds are from 0.2 to 5 meters thick, and they are mined and refined to produce a variety of products, including sodium nitrate (for agriculture or industry uses), potassium nitrate, potassium sodium nitrate, sodium sulfate,iodine , and iodine derivatives.Caliche and Gardening
Problems caliche cause
Caliche beds can cause many problems when trying to grow plants. First, an impermeable caliche layer prevents water from draining properly, which can keep the roots from getting enough oxygen. Salts can also build up in the soil due to the lack of drainage. Both of these situations are detrimental to plant growth. Second, the impermeable nature of caliche beds also prevents plant roots from going through the bed, which means the roots have a limited supply of nutrients, water, and space, so they cannot develop normally. Third, caliche beds can also cause the surrounding soil to be basic (have a high
pH ). The basic soil, along with calcium carbonate from the caliche, can prevent plants from getting enough nutrients, especiallyiron . An iron deficiency will cause the plant’s youngest leaves to become yellow. Soil saturation above the caliche bed can make the condition worse.Fixing these problems
The best solution to these problems is to remove the layer of caliche and replace it with a mixture of organic material and soil. The hole should be large enough to contain the plant’s mature root system and should go entirely through the caliche layer. However, when the caliche layer is thick, dig a hole large enough for the mature root system. Then, a smaller hole or holes can be dug through the remaining caliche to provide drainage. To test drainage, the hole should be filled with water. If the level drops by 1 inch per hour, the drainage is sufficient.
Caliche can be somewhat broken up by allowing
beneficial weed s -- which tend to have stronger, deeper roots than garden plants (ergo their weed status) -- to grow in the garden ascompanion plant s. They can force enough separation of the soil to allow other plants a better chance to breath, obtain nutrition, and have proper water circulation.References
* Breazeale, J.F. and H.V. Smith. "Caliche in Arizona." University of Arizona: Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 131 (15 April 1930): 419-441.
*Price, William Armstrong. "Reynosa Problem of Southern Texas, and Origin of Caliche." Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists 17.5 (1933): 488-522.
*Reeves, C.C., Jr. "Caliche: Origin, Classification, Morphology and Uses." Lubbock, Texas: Estacado Books, 1976.
*Reeves, C.C., Jr. and J.D. Suggs. "Caliche of Central and Southern Llano Estacado, Texas: Notes." Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 34.3 (1964): 669-672.External links
* [http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/soils/caliche.html Conquering Home Yard Caliche]
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