13. Raw Soils

Raw Soils have minimal evidence of soil development, usually because of a short time since the parent materials were deposited or exposed at the land surface. The Raw Soils are associated with some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenic landscapes. Raw Soils are scattered throughout New Zealand, particularly in association with high mountains (eroding alpine rock areas and active screes), braided rivers, beaches and tidal estuaries, non-stabilised sand dunes, recently emplaced lavas or tephras, and active geothermal areas. They cover about 3% of New Zealand (about 700,000 ha). Raw Soils lack a distinct topsoil or the topsoil is very thin (<5 cm) and they have no B horizon . The soil profile properties, therefore, correspond largely with those of the parent materials.