Reprint - Central Arid Zone Research Institute

environments. Paleopedology enables an understanding ofpolygenetic profiles and spatial variation of soil cover so far as it isdependent on age of sediments. Since the processes which form thepresent day soils are similar to those which formed the paleosols thestudy of relict soils together with data control have the potential toprovide a handy proxy information on past environments. Thesubject becomes all the more important in our current evermountingconcern to learn about the course of future environmentfrom the past. First of all the obvious diagnostic feature i.e., ofhumus build-up is transitory and does not persist in most soils.Further, even in present day tropical soil the distinction as to wherea soil profile ends and weathering zone begins is difficult. Therefore,establishment of a paleosol becomes a real challenging task. Furtherthe pitfalls in correlating time with weathering make the paleosol apoor data control which is an ever increasing demand.81 Dhir, R.P. (1995)The genesis and distribution of arid zone calcretes. MemoirsGeological Society of India. 32: 191-209Calcretes are one of the most striking features of the arid zone andexposures of these can be seen right from the eastern wetter fringeto the driest west that today receives