The morphology of desert soils and their environment were studied in Mojave and Colorado deserts. The desert soils are products of a scrub community. This is designated as predominantly abiotic and thermogenic. It is characterized by the short biopedogenic cycles which prevent an accumulation of humus. The profiles of many desert soils are characterized by "dead," mechanically accumulated, surface horizons, and by frequent occurrence of desert crusts (hardpans) and claypans. The desert crusts are probably formed as a result of precipitation and accumulation near the surface of various cementing materials (lime, gypsum, silica) from ascending solutions. The claypans very likely are formed in situ by hydrolytic decomposition of certain minerals, mainly of feldspars, and by a subsequent dehydration of these products of decomposition.