Soil formation in the coast aeolianites and sands of Natal

The morphological, physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of eight prominent classes of soil developed in the coast aeolianites and sands of Natal are presented. These data and information on soil geography lead to the conclusion that: (i) losses of silica and bases and relative accumulation of iron (the ferrallitic process) have given rise to red and yellow kaolinitic materials; (ii) clay eluviation has given rise to coarse textured topsoils and to B2t horizons; and (iii) the hydromorphic process has caused grey colours in many sandy topsoils, plinthite development at some E/B horizon interfaces and gleying of some B2 horizons. In the soils on the older aeolianites, there is no evidence of either podzolization or the coarser textured topsoil being a younger geological deposit. The development of yellow soils in younger aeolianites may indicate a cooler climate than existed when red materials developed from the older aeolianites.