Ecosym-Regolith Classification

Regolith is the predominantly loose, fragmented, poorly consolidated surficial material overlying coherent bedrock. Regolith Classification is based on structure and the formative processes responsible for the surficial material. Emphasis is placed on the materials involved and the processes which transport, shape and redistribute these materials. Regolith classification is designed to classify or "define" discrete points. Information that describes or "defines" each point does not depend on the characteristics or "definitions" of adjacent classified points, nor does it have an intrinsic spatial character . . Regolith classification l1as four hierarchical levels which yield increasingly more deta-iled information on a classified point. The highest, most generalized level is the ORDER. After ORDER, are CLASS, TYPE and LOCALE. Each level is divided into elements which classify regolith into distinctive units. For example, ORDER level has the following units: EROSION ORDER, DEPOSITION ORDfR, and RESIDUAL ORDER. Thickness and vertical composition of regolith can provide additional information to the classification of material exposed at the Earth's surface. Conditional series describes thickness and vertical composition as applied at any hierarchical level. • Mapping is accomplished through a defined mapping rule which combines the contiguous classified po-ints usin9 the descriptions or "definitions" of discrete points. The rmp scale and/or hierarchical level is chosen on the bas·is of nMnagement, econo111ic, and political goals, and existing information.