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Terrace Sequences in the Greater Latrobe River Valley

The Catchment to the Gippsland Lakes, provide a unique sequence of terraces associated with the Latrobe, McAllister, Avon and Thomson Rivers in particular. Specific information can also be found in the Soil Landscape Mapping and other soil information as well as the Geomorphology section. Here we have a summary linking the Geological Units, the Geomorphology, the Soil Mapping Units and those units that have specific visual panoramas for extra explanation of the landscape. Much of this was compiled and developed by the late Dr Ian Sargeant.


The terrace sequences implies about 7 stages of erosion and then deposition since the late Tertiary (now part of the Neogene period) /start of the Quaternary period.


For an example of terrace development highlighting the Briagolong Terrace (Quaternary, Pleistocene, level 4; Qp4) see below:

Diagram: Figure 1
Figure 1: Deposition of the sediments on which the Briagolong Unit soils are formed.
Diagram: Figure 2
Figure 2: Erosion of the Briagolong land-surface following a period of uplift or sea level change.
Diagram: Figure 3
Figure 3: Valley in-filled with later sediments on which the Stratford Unit soils are formed.
Diagram: Figure 4
Figure 4: Erosion of the Stratford Unit land-surface following a period of uplift or sea level change.
Diagram: Figure 5
Figure 5: Valley in-filled with later sediments (Qp6a, 6b) - see table below.
Geological Subdivision
Landform
Landform Elements
Map Unit
Qp6a
Terrace
Terrace plain
Qp6b
Stagnant alluvial plain
Levee


Backplain


Dune


Swamp
Diagram: Figure 6
Figure 6: Major sea level change associated with the last ice age resulted in erosion of late Pleistocene sediments.
Diagram: Figure 7
Figure 7: Present floodplains of Newry, Thomson, and La Trobe Units become in-filled with sediments.
Diagram: Figure 8
Figure 8: Generalised cross-section between Heyfield and north of Latrobe River near Rosedale (diagrammatic only - not to scale).
Diagram: Figure 9
Figure 9: Generalised cross-section across Avon River and related terraces (diagrammatic only - not to scale).
Diagram: Figure 10
Figure 10: Generalised indication of past sea levels.

Visual landscape panoramas are available for:

Map Unit
    Terrace Landscape Position
Br - Briagolong
    Moderate
Cg - Coongulla
    Very high
Ne - Newry
    Very Low
Ti - Tinamba
    Low
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