What is Saprolite?

The Soil Survey Manual lists saprolite in Ch. 3 but I see no definition in the SSM, NSSH, or in the Keys to Soil Taxonomy or in the big book of Soil Taxonomy. Yet the term is used in many places in several of those standards. I feel it should be defined. Did I overlook the definition? Saprolite is listed in Ch. 3 as one of the materials for a C horizon, with reference to Table 3-7. I think that saprolite should be restricted to the top two rows of table 3-7, the material described as soft or loose. There is much debate among practitioners of what saprolite is. How can we get a definition that supports the use and intent of the term in our standards?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/2017 11:28AM by ttcf.