caliche

[kuh-lee-chee]

noun

Geology.

1. a surface deposit consisting of sand or clay impregnated with crystalline salts such as sodium nitrate or sodium chloride.

2. a zone of calcium carbonate or other carbonates in soils of semiarid regions.

caliche

/ kæˈliːtʃɪ /

noun

1. Also called: calcrete. a bed of sand or clay in arid regions cemented by calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, and other soluble minerals

2. Also called: duricrust. a surface layer of soil encrusted with calcium carbonate, occurring in arid regions

caliche

1. See hardpan

Word History and Origins

Origin of caliche¹

1855–60; < Spanish: flake of lime, equivalent to cal lime (< Latin calc-; chalk ) + -iche noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of caliche¹

C20: from American Spanish, from Latin calx lime