Fech fech (Arabic: فش فش) is a very fine powder caused by the erosion of clay-limestone terrain and it is most commonly found in deserts.[1] It consists of a surface horizon of pulverized soil with low particle cohesion[2] protected under a thin crust. Fech fech is derived from ancient lake muds or on certain argillaceous rocks and is one of the desert surfaces that produces dust.[3] It is not determinable from the surface and can therefore pose a significant transportation hazard acting as a surprise "trap" as the ground collapses beneath a vehicle miring it in a quicksand-like substance.

Fech-fech is classified into two types:[2]

  • Fech-fech that developed during the Holocene, in lake mud or fluvio-lacustrine sediments.
  • Fech-fech that developed from shale.

Fech fech is common in the Qattara Depression in Egypt, making that portion of the Sahara Desert impassable by most vehicles.

See also

References

  1. ↑ U., Cooke, Ronald (1993). Desert geomorphology. Warren, Andrew., Goudie, Andrew., Cooke, Ronald U. London: UCL Press. ISBN 0203020596. OCLC 71368681.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 Encyclopedia of geomorphology. Goudie, Andrew. London: Routledge. 2004. pp. 364. ISBN 1134482760. OCLC 252833849.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ↑ Goudie, Andrew S.; Middleton, Nicholas J., eds. (2006), "Dust Entrainment, Transport and Deposition", Desert Dust in the Global System, Springer, pp. 13–31, doi:10.1007/3-540-32355-4_2, ISBN 978-3-540-32355-6


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