Caliche

//kəˈlit͡ʃi// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A crude form of sodium nitrate from South America; used as a fertilizer. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    nitrate-bearing rock or gravel of the sodium nitrate deposits of Chile and Peru wordnet
  3. 3
    A layer of hard clay subsoil or sedimentary rock; hardpan. countable, uncountable

    "According to local well drillers, in wells drilled on the high plains a few hundred feet back from the caliche escarpment or in other locations on the high plains in this area no hard caliche or white layer, such as would characterize a soft layer of high lime-carbonate content, is generally reached at a depth corresponding to the elevation of the caliche escarpment."

  4. 4
    crust or layer of hard subsoil encrusted with calcium-carbonate occurring in arid or semiarid regions wordnet

Etymology

From Spanish caliche, from Latin calx (“pebble”); compare chalk.

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