GLAEBULES: THEIR DEFINITION, CLASSIFICATION AND INTERPRETATION

Abstract

Summary A broad group of pedological features has been recognized by their occurrence as three‐dimensional entities embedded in the matrix of soil materials. They have been named glaebules and are divided into sub‐groups on their internal fabric, mineralogy, distinctness as a unit, and shape. These features include nodules, concretions, and septaria which have all been recognized by the petrologist, and pedodes, papules, and glaebular haloes which are newly recognized features. An attempt is made to interpret the origin of these features in terms of processes of formation and inheritance versus formation in situ. This is based on interpretation of the characteristics used for their classification.