The Significance of Apatite in the Classification of Crete and Wymore Soils in Nebraska

The purpose of this research is to study the significance of the mineral apatite, a primary phosphorus-bearing mineral, in the classification of Wymore and Crete soils. Morphologically, Wymore soils and Crete soils exhibit similar textural and structural profiles. In Wymore soils, however, the subsoils and substrata have an olive tint, and prominent mottles and iron segregation occur in the olive gray loessial parent material. Crete soils lack olive tints and iron segregations in their subsoils and substrata, and their parent material is a predominantly brown loess. The area investigated in this study extends from the Loess Drift Hills of southeastern Nebraska to the Loess Plains of south central Nebraska. A transect across this area resulted in the description and sampling of the two Wymore soil profiles from Gage County and six Crete soil profiles from Gage, Saline, Fillmore, and Clay Counties. This transect extends from the Brunizem-Chernozem soil transition area of Gage County to the Chernozem soil zone of Clay County. Advisor: James V. Drew