Termites in Southern Rhodesia create whitened soil cones underground, with carbonates giving the soil its pale color. The outer cone has more carbonates than the inner cone, which has termite galleries and sodium salts, leading to higher pH levels. This termite activity affects the soil structure and mineral distribution, creating calcareous and sodium-influenced soils in an area with leached ferrallitic soils. The soil below the mound has the same layers as the surrounding soil, but termites help mix materials from deeper layers to the surface, influencing salt distribution and soil horizons.