caliche

• Sustancia que designa una capa endurecida del subsuelo, cubierta por una costra de carbonato de calcio, típica de regiones áridas, o bien una roca o grava rica en nitratos procedente de yacimientos de nitrato de sodio en Chile y Perú.

A noun referring to a hardened layer of subsoil encrusted with calcium carbonate, found in arid regions, or a nitrate-bearing rock or gravel from sodium nitrate deposits in Chile and Peru.

1. Hard subsoil crustC1formal

   A hardened layer of soil found in dry regions, often containing calcium carbonate.

   Capa dura de subsuelo

   • Farmers in the desert struggled to break through the caliche layer.
   • The caliche made it difficult for plant roots to penetrate the ground.
   • Construction crews had to use special equipment to dig through the caliche.

   Sinónimoshardpan

2. Nitrate-bearing depositC2formal

   A mineral deposit containing sodium nitrate, found in the deserts of Chile and Peru.

   Caliche (depósito de nitratos)

   • The caliche deposits in the Atacama Desert were a major source of nitrates.
   • Miners extracted caliche for use in fertilizers and explosives.
   • The region's economy once relied heavily on caliche mining.