DEFINITION OF FABRIC DISTRIBUTIONS TO CHARACTERIZE THE REARRANGEMENT OF SOIL PARTICLES IN THE TURBIC CRYOSOLS

Abstract

Micromorphological study of Turbic Cryosols (permafrost soils) from the MacKenzie River Valley and Yukon Coastal Plain resulted in the observations of distinct unnamed fabric distributions that implied rearrangement of the skeleton grains and f-members. It was noted that the skeleton grains or f-members were capable of independent reorganization in relation to the plasma or f-matrix. Three modal fabric types were defined as follows: 1. Orbiculic fabric — The skeleton grains or f-members are reorganized into circular or ellipsoidal patterns. 2. Suscitic fabric — The skeleton grains or f-members are vertically aligned and often show an accumulation of finer matrix material at the base. 3. Conglomeric fabric — A compound distribution in which individual f-members are enclosed by finer matrix material into a secondary fabric such as fragmic or granoidic. The interpretation of the genesis of these fabrics may aid in understanding the developmental history of the soil, especially those soils that have been subjected to cryogenic processes.