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GL35

Location: Dartmoor

Australian Soil Classification: Parapanic, Humosesquic, Semiaquic PODOSOL (confidence level 1)
General Landscape Description: Level plain
Site Description: Flat
Land Unit: Strathdownie
Geology: Quaternary lacustrine

General Land Unit Description: This land unit comprises the Quaternary lacustrine geology south of the Glenelg River. The lacustrine deposits include lagoonal, swamp and local colluvial deposits formed in low-lying wetlands and depressions between stranded beach ridges. Parent material in this land unit comprises of sand, silt, sandy clay, peat, marl and freshwater limestone, occurring in relatively unconsolidated forms.

The soils are variable throughout this land unit due to varying depositional environments. A common soil type is a strong texture contrast soil (Chromosol, Sodosol) commonly with a bleached A2 horizon and a mottled subsoil (indicative of impeded internal drainage). The sandy topsoil can be very deep in some soils. Vertosols are also common on the plains and swales in between the dunes. Podosols occur on the flats as well as on the dunes and that may have been mapped as part of this land unit due to restrictions of scale. Many of the soils are poorly drained and exhibit signs of a perched watertable.


Soil pit GL35 auger


Key profile features:

  • Deep sandy topsoil
  • Bleached A2 horizon
  • Ferruginous nodules above clay
  • Mottled subsoil
  • Sodic subsoil



Profile Described By: Natalie Baxter and Grant Boyle, 2nd October 2000.
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