Figure 2.
(A) Saprolite on the North Carolina Piedmont. Rock structural features are preserved, yet saprolite is soft and easily excavated. (Note bulldozer for scale, lower right; photo credit: G. Simpson). (B) Thin section micrograph (cross-polarized light) showing thorough alteration of weatherable primary minerals to clay minerals (photo credit: M. Vepraskas). (C) Due to this extensive weathering and clay production, saprolite is plastic when wet.