Vertisols
Vertisols are clayey soils that shrink and develop cracks when they dry and swell shut when they are moist ( the root ert comes from the Latin word Vertare for turn over). The shrinking and swelling damage buildings and roads. The mineral montmorillonite in the clay fraction causes the soil to have these properties. The soil develops shiny surfaces in the subsoil called slickenslides as a result of the peds rubbing against each other as they swell (the ss designation indicates the presence of these features) The diagnostic feature for the soil order is the high clay percentage and the presence of montmorillonite a 2:1 clay the causes the shrinking and swelling feature
Vertisols are heavy clay soils that show significant expansion and contraction due to the presence or absence of moisture. Vertisols are common in areas that have shale parent material and heavy precipitation. The location of these soils in the United States is primarily found in Texas where they are used to grow cotton.