Post-Pleistocene Development of Root-Shaped Ferruginous Concretions

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1982-03

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Research Projects

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During investigations of the surficial geology of Summit County, Ohio, concretions were noted at several locations in the bed and banks of the East Fork Rocky River. The concretions are generally root-shaped, noncalcareous, and concentrically banded by iron hydroxide, with a prominent central tube. They are found in the uppermost portion of Pleistocene lake sediments below coarse sand and gravel. Because the concretions are restricted in occurrence to a few specific localities, their formation results from a unique combination of stratigraphy, materials of the deposit, ground water conditions and the penetration of the silt by plant roots. The concretions are presently forming in the fine-grained silts where roots promote the oxidation of iron compounds by withdrawing water, facilitating the entry of oxygen, and altering surrounding pH conditions.

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Author Institution: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey

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The Ohio Journal of Science. v82, n1 (March, 1982), 14-18