siltjord

Siltjord is a sedimentary deposit characterized by compacted silt particles bound by clay minerals and iron oxides, forming cohesive, block-like masses. The term is used in sedimentology to describe lithified horizons that develop in slow-subsiding alluvial settings and in periglacial environments where frost action contributes to cementation.

Formation occurs when silt settles from suspension in slow-flowing rivers, lakes, or floodplains. Burial by additional sediment and chemical cementation promote lithification, creating durable, silt-rich layers. In periglacial zones, repeated freeze–thaw cycles induce contraction and cracking, producing polygonal blocks characteristic of siltjord outcrops.

Physical properties include grain sizes in the silt range (0.002–0.05 mm), moderate porosity, and low to moderate permeability. Siltjord beds weather to silty clays and can become brittle when dried, often splitting along weak planes.

Distribution and environment: Siltjord horizons occur in temperate to boreal floodplains and deltas where sustained sediment input coincides with seasonal freezing. They are less common in arid settings and are better preserved where rapid burial protects against weathering. They also provide records of past hydrology and climate.

Human use and research: Historically, siltjord horizons have been used locally as low-grade building material in resource-limited areas. In modern studies, they are of interest for reconstructing sedimentation rates, paleoclimatology, and periglacial processes.