Development and distribution of soils in the Merredin area, Western Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1964 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Bettenay ◽  
FJ Hingston

The soil pattern in the Merredin district of Western Australia is closely related to a number of readily recognizable landscape features. An understanding of these relationships is proving useful in broad-scale mapping in semi-arid Western Australia and the units so obtained can be readily subdivided for more detailed mapping. Soil and topographic relationships of the five surfaces recognized are described in detail. These are an expression of erosional modifications of a mature Tertiary landscape resulting from changes in landscape stability. Deep lateritic weathering has influenced the chemistry and morphology of large areas of soils. Smaller areas of soils are developed from less weathered material exposed by complete removal of the lateritic profile, and from lake parna resulting from wind deflation of salinized alluvial sediments. The physical and chemical properties of samples from representative soils are summarized and discussed with reference to profiles which are arranged in groups on the basis of origin of parent material.

Soil Research ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
AJ Koppi

A common toposequence on Bunya Phyllite in south-east Queensland was studied in detail at a representative site. Four sample profiles on the slope are described, and some physical and chemical properties are given. The clay minerals, derived from the weathering of the quartz-sericite-chlorite phyllite, comprise dioctahedral mica, dioctahedral vermiculite, an interstratification of these minerals, and kaolin. Properties are related to the slope; and the clay-rich horizon of the middle and lower slopes is considered to be formed mostly by in situ weathering. The classification of the genetic unit given by the slope and parent material is discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Kowalska ◽  
Bartłomiej Kajdas ◽  
Tomasz Zaleski

Abstract Carbonate-rich soils are characterized by great diversity in content of carbonate and non-carbonate mineral substances in soil substrate which largely influences soil properties. The study presents the analysis results of four soil profiles located at the area of Pieniny National Park. The aim of this study was to characterize and classify the soils developed from the mixture of carbonate and carbonate-rich rock material, formerly classified as pararendzinas. It was achieved by determination of morphological, physical, and chemical properties, as well as mineralogical composition of selected carbonate-rich soils occurring in the Polish part of the Pieniny Mts. Soils were classified as typical chernozemic rendzina (P1), typical eutrophic brown soils (P2, P4), as well as typical pararendzina (P3) according to Polish Soil Classification (2011). The parent material of studied soils P1, P2 and P4 were slope covers, with a dominant share of sandstone and minor share of limestone, whereas soil P3 was formed from variegated shale cut with multiple calcite veins. Soils were characterized by stable aggregate structure: crumby, angular blocky and subangular blocky. They were medium or strong skeletal, mostly with loam texture with great share of silt fraction. CaCO3 content in genetic horizons ranged from 0.0 to 703.0 g·kg-1. The reaction of studied soils was from weakly acidic to alkaline. Analysed soils were characterized by very high base saturation. Among determined exchangeable cations, Ca2+ ions had the biggest share in all analysed profile. High base saturation, as well as high content of calcium carbonate was accompanied by content of organic matter and percentage content of clay fraction. Taking into consideration determined chemical and physical properties, it can be found that investigated soils were influenced by not only the in-situ weathering material but also by rock material which have been transported and deposited as a result of slope processes. Furthermore, the lack or lower content of CaCO3 in surface and middle part of analysed soil profiles was most likely a result of the impoverishment of rock material during the transport on the slope.


Polar Record ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-114
Author(s):  
Wojciech Szymański ◽  
Janusz Siwek ◽  
Michał Skiba ◽  
Bronisław Wojtuń ◽  
Aleksandra Samecka-Cymerman ◽  
...  

AbstractSoil is one of the most important constituents of an ecosystem, playing a crucial role in many environmental reactions and processes. Despite the fact that many environmental studies were conducted in the vicinity of Longyearbyen, very little is known about the physical and chemical properties as well as mineralogy of soils occurring in this town. Thus, the main aims of this study were: (1) to determine the texture, chemical properties and mineralogy of the topsoil horizons of urban soils occurring in the Longyearbyen area (Spitsbergen, Norway); and (2) to determine and explain their spatial distribution within the area of Longyearbyen. In general, the topsoils are characterised by loamy texture; acidic reaction; quite high content of total organic carbon (TOC); high content of Si, Al and Fe; and low content of K, Na, Ca, Mg and P. Quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, mica and chlorite are the prevailing minerals. Differences in the concentration of TOC, total nitrogen and elements in the topsoils are mainly related to the diversity of texture and mineralogy of the local parent material and the development of vegetation cover. The results indicate that topsoils in Longyearbyen are characterised by the natural properties and are not strongly transformed by human activity. However, pollution of soil with trace elements related to coal mining should be checked.


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