Landforms and soils on an uplifted peneplain in the Darling Range Western Australia

Mulcahy, M. J.; Churchward, H.M.; Dimmock, G. M.

doi:10.1071/sr9720001

Cited by 49 publications

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“…The study sites were located within the gold mining lease of Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd, in State Forest near Boddington (Fig. Details of the physiography and landforms of this region can be found in Jutson (1934), Mulcahy et al (1972) and Churchward & Dimmock (1989). This area is on the eastern limit of the northern jarrah forest region of the Darling Plateau, which forms the south-western part of the Great Plateau of Australia.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community structure of the macroinvertebrate fauna and water quality of a saline river system in south-western Australia

Bunn

Davies

1992

Hydrobiologia

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Many streams and rivers in the south-west of Western Australia have marginal salinities and only about half of the divertible surface water is fresh (< 3 g l-' ). Although salinization is recognised as the greatest threat to water resources throughout Australia, little is known of its effect on the biota. This paper gives the first quantitative description of the macroinvertebrate fauna of a salinized river system in southwestern Australia.Two sites on an intermittent stream (Thirty-four Mile Brook) and two sites on a perennial river (Hotham River), above and below the confluence with the above tributary, were sampled on three occasions for benthic macroinvertebrates.Only 68 taxa were recorded in quantitative samples from the sites; a further 11 taxa were recorded in qualitative samples from these and two additional sites on the tributary. The river system shared several fauna1 elements with athalassic salt lakes across southern Australia. Crustaceans, particularly the amphipod Austrochiltonia subtenuis and several species of ostracods, were numerically dominant at all sites. In contrast to the benthic fauna of most lotic systems, insects formed only a small proportion of the individuals collected from the Hotham River. Chironomids were the dominant insect group, both in terms of the number of species and individuals, particularly at one of the tributary sites where species of Tanytarsus comprised almost half of the total number of individuals. Overall, the benthic fauna was characterised by very high densities and low richness, diversity and evenness. This is likely to be a direct consequence of the poor water quality of the system where high salinities, often greater than 3 g l-', were recorded.Classification and ordination revealed major differences in community structure of the benthic fauna between the Hotham River and its tributary. This was attributed to differences in the physical nature of the two streams, particularly substrate characteristics and stream permanence, rather than differences in water quality. Temporal differences in community structure were also apparent, but were more obvious in the Hotham River than in the tributary.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community structure of the macroinvertebrate fauna and water quality of a saline river system in south-western Australia

Bunn

Davies

1992

Hydrobiologia

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“…Descriptive data in previous publications (Northcote et al 1967;Mulcahy et al 1972;Finkl and Churchward 1973;Dimmock et al 1974;Churchward and Batini 1975;McArthur and Clifton 1975) suggest a close similarity between the middle Blackwood and a zone along the south-western fringe of the Darling Plateau in terms of landform, geology, soil materials and weathering. For instance, the Warraniani mantle of in situ weathering is comparable with materials which occur extensively as a subsurface feature in this zone (such as those described by Dimmock et al 1974) and which are readily observable in cores, cuttings and quarries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…For instance, the Warraniani mantle of in situ weathering is comparable with materials which occur extensively as a subsurface feature in this zone (such as those described by Dimmock et al 1974) and which are readily observable in cores, cuttings and quarries. As in the midBlackwood area the ironstone gravels that dominate the surface of the Darling Plateau in this zone are usually closely associated with lateritic duricrust (Northcote et al 1967), while the tendency of the gravels to grade laterally downslope to more sandy elements has been referred to by Mulcahy et al (1972) and by Churchward and Batini (1975) in studies towards its northern end. These materials are facies of the Minnijup layer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Apart from the shallow swampy valleys of the plateau surface, the drainage elements show two distinct types of dissection. One type, with an open U-shaped cross section and scattered rock exposure and with floors about 100 m below the general level of the plateau, is similar to the Darkin Valley form described by Mulcahy et al (1972) in the latitude of Perth. Deeper dissections, further downstream with steeper valley sides and much rock exposed, and having floors about 250 m below the adjacent uplands, are comparable with the Helena Valley form .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Soil stratigraphy in a deeply weathered shield landscape in south-western Australia

Finkl¹,

Churchward²

1976

Soil Res.

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Soil stratigraphy on an erosionally modified deeply weathered shield landscape in south-western Australia is described. h z situ development of deep profiles of weathering are indicated by preservation of weathered rock fabrics and intact quartz veins. The independence of sedimentary layers is shown by reference to lateral trends within layers, by the relationship of these trends to associated layers, and by certain distribution patterns of mineral grains and reverse weathering patterns between layers. The succession of soil-stratigraphic layers described is used as a basis to interpret profile morphology and aspects of landform development. Striking features of soil morphology and soil pattern can be related to soil stratigraphy and hence to landform history rather than to pedogenic processes. In particular, texture contrast profiles relate to superposition of a shallow slope sediment on clayey saprolite. Red and yellow earths relate to deep phases of this sediment or to erosional exposure of elements of the profiles of deep weathering.

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“…Features of the underlying geology have enormous effects on the potential for successful restoration of the mine sites. The Darling Range is the western edge of Precambrian granites and gneisses of the Yilgarn Block (Mulcahy et al 1972). Deep weathering, predominantly during the Cretaceous, and subsequent surface laterization during the Oligocene have formed the duricrusts and deep lateritic profiles of alumina, quartz, and iron oxides underlain by kaolinitic clay.…”

Section: Geographic Setting For Restorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bauxite Mining Restoration by Alcoa World Alumina Australia in Western Australia: Social, Political, Historical, and Environmental Contexts

Gardner

Bell

2007

Restoration Ecology

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Alcoa World Alumina Australia mines bauxite under lease agreements with the Government of Western Australia. The leases lie in the Darling Range to the east of Perth, the capital and major population center. In addition to bauxite and other mineral ores, the Darling Range is a major potable water source and harbors a species‐rich forest dominated by Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), a significant commercial timber. Conservation and recreation are important land uses in the region. Social and political pressures have led to stringent governmental requirements for restoration. In addition, a summer drought period, a soil deficient in most nutrients, water management challenges, an introduced disease, caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands, and a post‐mining ecosystem that must be conducive to the prescribed burning management of the region pose significant challenges to successful restoration. Alcoa presently mines and restores approximately 550 ha per annum. Although the “footprint” at the end of the life of the mining operations represents only about 4% of the total forest estate, Alcoa is committed to restoring the forest values of the region of all lands impacted by mining. The major objective of restoration is to enhance or maintain forest values by restoring habitat and structural characteristics of the native forest environment. Completion criteria for Alcoa’s mine restoration have been developed. The original Alcoa mine at Jarrahdale has been rehabilitated, and in 2005, a 975‐ha area received a “certificate of completion” and was returned to the management control of the State of Western Australia.

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Landforms and soils on an uplifted peneplain in the Darling Range Western Australia

Cited by 49 publications

References 0 publications

Community structure of the macroinvertebrate fauna and water quality of a saline river system in south-western Australia

Community structure of the macroinvertebrate fauna and water quality of a saline river system in south-western Australia

Soil stratigraphy in a deeply weathered shield landscape in south-western Australia

Bauxite Mining Restoration by Alcoa World Alumina Australia in Western Australia: Social, Political, Historical, and Environmental Contexts

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