i am trying to find out why is all the soil in ga red clay?

Question

was it because centuries ago the soil in ga underwent something drastic that would chg the content of the soil tku

Answer 1

The red coloring is indeed from iron oxide, but the story is much more interesting than that.

The red clay of Georgia is called an Ultisol by soil scientists. Ultisols form in humid temperate and tropical areas of the world, where there is intense weathering that leaches away the calcium, magnesium, and potassium, leaving behind the clay and insoluble iron oxide. Since some parts of the state of Georgia have been dry land for the past 300 million years, these soils are very mature. During that time period Georgia experienced both a past tropical climate and a humid temperate climate like it has today. For much of that time period Georgia was at or near the equator. Today that red clay dirt is the tell-tale evidence of that past geologic history and the age of Georgia soils.

Here is a soil science site that describes Ultisol with maps:
http://soils.ag.uidaho.edu/soilorders/ultisols.htm
Here are the suborders of Ultisol with photos of other Georgia soils:
http://soils.ag.uidaho.edu/soilorders/ultisols%20suborders.htm

Here are some paleogeography maps that show how Georgia was once equatorial: (start looking at Early Permian and move to younger periods)
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.html

Answer 2

Coming from another red-clay state, Colorado, this is cake. The red is from a high iron oxide content. The clay is highly weathered rock, producing small particles. Being in the dirty south, a lot of that clay was probably deposited when the sea would rise and move inland.

Answer 3

Back when the earth had just algae,giving off oxygen.It took millions of years,for any oxygen levels to build.As all the iron on the planet was absorbing all the oxygen the plants produced.Hence, all the iron oxide(red soil) today.GA,VA,NC,are just a few states that have high iron oxide today.After all the iron absorbed all it could, and only then, could the oxygen level rise to support other life forms to evolve.Pretty cool hua...

Answer 4

high iron in soil most likely along with other minerals

Answer 5

Carbonates has hit the nail on the head again

Answer 6

Right, iron--but specifically, iron oxide. (pretty sure iron itself is gray.)