French Island (Fi)

Note: The French Island mapping units are similar to the Heath Mounds mapping units except that they lack the clayey depressions.

Geology:

Recent to Pleistocene aeolian and alluvial sediments that were reworked by wind in a past glacial period, approximately 20,000 years ago.

Landform:

Undulating lowland comprising dunefields and sand plains. The mapping unit comprises low dunes (about 70%) and small but numerous low areas and semi-permanent swamps (about 30%).

Land Use:

Most of this unit occurs on French Island much of which is State Park. Where native vegetation remains, the low dunes support a sandy heathland with areas of heathy woodland. Whereas the low areas and semipermanent swamps are predominantly wet heathland. Where cleared, the land is mostly used for grazing but some horticulture occurs on the better drained soils.

Soils:

Component 1 (about 70%)

Most of the soils have a dark grey, loamy sand surface soil. A pronounced bleached zone occurs near 25 cm. At about 90 cm, a coffee rock layer is encountered. This layer comprises black, dark brown and yellowish brown cemented sands and is frequently impenetrable to the soil auger. Below the coffee rock, light yellowish-brown or brownish-yellow sands generally occur, although in lower lying areas mottled clays or sandy clays may occur. The soils are typically Aeric Podosols.

Component 2 (about 30%)

Most of these soils have a dark grey loamy sand to sandy loam surface soil. A bleached zone of similar texture generally occurs from about 20 cm. Below the bleached zone, at about 60 cm, a layer of coffee rock or humus enriched material generally occurs. Mottled light brownish grey with yellowish brown sandy clay loams grading into sandy clays occur below the coffee rock.