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 calledcalcrete a bed of sand or clay in arid regions cemented by calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, and other soluble minerals
2. a surface layer of soil encrusted with calcium carbonate, occurring in arid regions Also calledduricrust

caliche

/ kə-lē′chē /

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

Example Sentences

“Plants themselves sequester carbon but in the desert soils there’s this caliche layer,” Dashiell says.

From Los Angeles Times

Everybody that is lower middle class to lower class in El Salvador, we are very proud of our caliche.

From Los Angeles Times

As of early November, through Woodward’s efforts, the gravel road to the crossing has been improved and a large area has been cleared and covered with caliche.

From Washington Times

Expect gooseberry, pink grapefruit and minerality thanks to the caliche soils these vines grow in.

From Seattle Times

The more than 3-acre plot of state trust land near Eunice hasn’t been leased since the 1970s when it was mined for shallow deposits of limestone known as caliche.

From Washington Times