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LATERITES AND LATERITIC SOILS IN SOUTH‐WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Author(s) -
MULCAHY M. J.
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1960.tb01080.x
Subject(s) - weathering , laterite , geology , sedimentary depositional environment , soil water , earth science , geochemistry , physical geography , geomorphology , geography , soil science , structural basin , nickel , materials science , metallurgy
Summary A short general account of the distribution and characteristics of the laterites of south‐western Australia is given in relation to past and present climates and to climatically controlled processes of landscape development. A number of erosional and depositional surfaces have been identified near York, Western Australia, the older of which are lateritic, and the characteristics of the laterites and the soils associated with them have been shown to vary with the age of the land surface on which they occur. Extensive sandy deposits derived by the weathering and stripping of the ferruginous horizons of the laterites have been recognized. It is suggested that the 'sand plains' of Western Australia, hitherto considered to be intact or only slightly modified fossil laterites, originated in this way.