The closest equivalent in the Canadian system of soil classification is called a duric horizon, although it does not mean exactly the same thing as a duripan in the United States.
They form almost exclusively in arid or Mediterranean climates, and can be as hard as concrete, which makes plowing very difficult or impossible.
Soils that include duripans are generally used for grazing or wildlife habitat, and are seldom cultivated.
Volcanic glass weathers rapidly, providing an ample supply of soluble silica to cement the underlying soil.
The weathered silica is mostly transported by water into the subsoil, where it precipitates and forms microaggregates that gradually grow into a full-fledged duripan.