rendzina

American  

[ren-jee-nuh] / rɛnˈdʒi nə /

noun

1. a dark, rich soil containing limestone or chalk, above a softer, pale, calcareous layer, developed in grassland areas of high to moderate humidity.

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rendzina British  

/ rɛnˈdziːnə /

noun

1. a dark interzonal type of soil found in grassy or formerly grassy areas of moderate rainfall, esp on chalklands

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Etymology

Origin of rendzina

First recorded in 1905–10; from Polish rędzina (the Polish letter ę, representing a nasalized vowel, in this context is pronounced as the consonant n, which the English spelling represents)

Example Sentences

When the Talpiot ossuaries were discovered, they were covered by a thick layer of a type of soil, Rendzina, that is characteristic of the hills of East Jerusalem and was apt to impose a unique geochemical signature on the ossuaries buried beneath it.

From New York Times

Dr. Shimron was looking for unusual amounts of elements derived from Rendzina soil, like silicon, aluminum, magnesium, potassium and iron, as well as for specific trace elements, including phosphorus, chrome and nickel — signature components of the type of clayey East Jerusalem soil that he says filled the Talpiot Tomb during the earthquake.

From New York Times