Distribution and Source of Calcium Carbonate in Arid Region of Western Rajasthan

The distribution pattern and source of lime, a characteristic component of arid landscape of western Rajasthan, in a large number of soil profiles, deep sections and calcareous patches were studied. The CaCO₃ present as finely dispersed and segregates, increases with depth in soils on different landforms and is influenced by topography within the landform. The variation in content of CaCO₃ (47.6 to 726 kg m⁻³), increasing trend with depth, absence of peak concentration, presence of microcrysta/lized, calcite in voids, channels and as coating of skeleton grains; presence of in situ formed of segregates, suggest that lime was present in the parent material inherited during aggradational processes. Pedogenic processes redistributed CaCO₃ in the soils and landscape. The surface flow enriched patches in the plains with CaCO₃.