Classification of carbonate layers in highland soils of the northern Murray Mallee, S.A., and their use in stratigraphic and land use studies

Abstract

The various carbonate layers which occur in the Northern Murray Mallee in South Australia have been allocated to four classes and three subclasses based on field characteristics. The layers represent accumulations of carbonate in three pedoderms of different ages, some of which have been developed in different Cainozoic sediments. The four classes and three subclasses separated by observation in the field were shown to be significantly different from each other with respect to several chemical properties. A code is proposed to describe sections. This includes the solum, the carbonate layers and the relevant geologic strata. The use of such a code in detailed land-use surveys is described.