hiekkamaakerrokseksi

Hiekkamaakerrokseksi is a descriptive Finnish term used in geology and soil science to denote a distinct horizon within a soil profile or sediment sequence that is predominantly sandy in texture. The word is formed from hiekkamaa (sandy soil) and kerros (layer) with the translative suffix -ksi, indicating a state or designation “into a layer” or “as a layer.” It is a descriptive label rather than a formal lithostratigraphic unit.

Characteristics commonly associated with hiekkamaakerrokseksi include a dominance of sand grains, often with little humus or clay, high permeability, and rapid drainage. The thickness of such a horizon can range from a few centimeters to several decimeters. In soil profiles, it may correspond to a sandy A or E horizon or to a sand-rich layer within unconsolidated sediments, lying between finer variants or between coarser gravelly layers.

Formation mechanisms vary with environment. Sandy layers can form through fluvial or aeolian deposition, shoreline or delta processes, or as part of glaciofluvial sediments. Pedogenic changes may modify the boundary with adjacent horizons, but the texture remains sand-dominated.

In practice, hiekkamaakerrokseksi is used by field geologists and soil scientists to describe textures and hydraulic properties relevant to infiltration, drainage, groundwater movement, and engineering considerations. Terminology differs regionally, and the term may be used alongside or replaced by more specific designations based on grain-size statistics and depth.