12 Soils of the World/Georgia & Rock

Interestingly there are 12 different types of soils in the world. Below is a map of the order of the soils and where they are located in the world. Here is a link for the informational website of the different soils. http://www.extension.org/pages/54963/the-twelve-soil-orders#.UngnJCRbwoY




The soil type in Georgia and Macon is the ultisols, which is the redder clay because Georgia is known for its deep dark red clay.  Georgia clay is heavy, nutrient-rich and retains moisture during wet periods. During dry weather, it turns hard as a rock, making it difficult to work with. This heavy nature makes it hard for many plants to send down roots, while some simply rot due to lack of drainage. Gardeners combat this problem by adding organic matter and tilling it in deeply. Plants suitable for high clay content soils include daylilies, Chinese elm, cypress trees, willow trees and poplar trees.

But, not all Georgia soils are red, but many of them are. The State is well known for its abundance of "Georgia Red Clay".  People often ask why the soils are red. The red color that is so evident in Georgia soils is due primarily to iron oxides.
Soils form from the interaction of climate, organisms, parent materials, relief, and time. Red soils in Georgia result from the affect of a warm, humid climate weathering acid crystalline rocks on rolling hills over a long period of time.

 

A specific rock, the Micaceous Shist is a metamorphic rock.  A schist is defined as “a metamorphic crystalline rock that has a closely foliated structure and can be split along approximately parallel planes.” In layman terms, this means it is made up of many layers and if this rock is struck it will break along a particular cleavage; thus the word schist.

 These layers under high heat and pressure were compressed and metamorphosed into a single solid rock.s derived from the Greek word meaning ‘to split’. The individual flakes of mica within the schist are visible to the naked eye. They are the reason for the rock’s sparkling and reflective surface. These bits of mica can also be easily flaked off the rock.