Soils high in swelling clays which crack widely upon drying resulting in shrinking, shearing and soil mass movement are characteristics of

Soils high in swelling clays that crack widely upon drying resulting in shrinking, shearing, and soil mass movement are characteristics of Vertisols.
The shrinking and selling of vertisols can damage buildings and roads, leading to extensive subsidence.
A vertisol is a soil type in which there is a high content of expansive clay minerals present and typically forms highly basic rocks.