1. A hard, weathered crust or layer of rock formed on or near the surface of soil in arid and semi-arid regions, typically composed of minerals such as silica, iron oxide, or calcium carbonate.
Usage: geology; technical

Examples

• The duricrust in the desert region made it difficult for water to penetrate the soil.
• Geologists studied the duricrust layer to understand the area's climate history.
• The formation of duricrust is common in tropical and subtropical environments with seasonal rainfall.
• Farmers had to break through the duricrust to plant crops in the arid landscape.