APPENDIX C DESCRIPTIONS OF LAND SYSTEMS

APPENDIX C

DESCRIPTIONS OF LAND SYSTEMS

APPENDIX Cl

Description of Land Systems at the Mine Site

IAND SYSTEM: Favenc (Rst)

Area: 322 ha

Geomorphic Province: G4

2

Appendix Cl Sheet 1

General Description: Steep hills and ridges on arenaceous and argillaceous sediments,with much rock exposed on the steep ridge slopes, lithosols and shallow gravelly siliceous sands.

Geology: Interbedded sequences of ridge fom1ing quartzarenite, sandstone, dololutite and dolomitic siltstone of the Middle Proterozoic McArthur Group, including both the Umbolooga and Batten Subgroup members.

Geomorphology: Eroded remnants of moderately folded to flat-lying interbedded sequences of Proterozoic sandstone, dolomite, dolomitic siltstone and shale,and quartzarenite.

Physiography: Elongate linear steep narrow ridges and hogbacks and intervening narrow to broadly depressional erosional valley floors .

Flora: Low to mid high open woodland of Cochospermum ssp. Terminalia canescens and Erythrophyleum chlorostachys. Mid- high open woodland of E. Dichromophyloia, E. miniata and E. tetradonta on the lower slopes and valley floor.

Fauna: Many species which are adapted to a rock and spinifex dwelling lifestyle, including Carpentarian Grasswren, Sandstone Shrike- thrush, Euro, Rock Wallaby, Sandstone Antechinus and Borroloola Gecko. An important habitat due to the high number of specialised species.

Land Area Land form Soils Comment Unit (ha) No.

1 266 Steep hills lopes and crests Mostly shallow lithosols (Ll) Includes the linear features with abundant rock outcrop; along the Emu Fault Zone slopes (40-60%)

2 56 Lower slopes and valley Shallow gravelly siliceous Active sheet and gully erosion floors; slopes (up to 10%) sands (SS2) and shallow sandy evident

brown earths

HOB0338.AC" Hollingsworth Dames & Moore

2

IAND SYSTEM: Emmerugga (Rle)

Area: 378 ha

Geomorphic Province: G4, GS

3 2

Appendix Cl Sheet 2

General Description: Undulating to rolling low hills mainly on argillaceous sediments with rock outcrop on steeper upper slopes, lithosols and gravelly red earths on the mid slopes, with yellow earths on lower slopes.

Geology: Middle Proterozoic McArthur Group including the Umbolooga and Batten Subgroups comprising an interbedded sequence of dololutite, dolomitic siltstone, shale and sandstone, and dolomitic carbonaceous and pyritic shale and siltstone.

Geomorphology: Moderately folded to flat-lying interbedded sequences of proterozoic sedimentary rocks forming a series of linear ridges with intervening erosional slopes and broadly depressional undulating valley floors.

Physiography: Undulating to rolling low hills and irregular broad low rounded rocky rises, with locally steep low rocky escarpment slopes and gentle to moderately steep erosional and colluvial lower slopes.

Flora: Mid-high open woodland of E. grandifolia, Erythrophleum chlorostarchys, E. tectifica and E. terminalis.

Fauna: Widespread woodland species such as Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and Willy Wagtail are common, as well as a number of animals which prefer stony substrates and outcrops. These include Stan's Monitor and the skink, Ctenotus inornatus.


1 145 Crests and upper slopes, Rock outcrop and shallow Barney Hill middle and upper irregular rocky and broadly lithosols (L2) slopes rounded with low steep rocky scarps included; slopes (25-30%), locally steeper

2 233 Lower erosional and colluvial Shallow gravelly red earths Mostly small isolated low slopes up to 10% (REl) and lithosols (L2) stony red soil rises

3 - Gently inclined foot-slopes Yellow earths (YE2) Unit not represented within and drainage floors; slopes up the project area to 5%

HOB0338.AC- Hollingsworth Dames & Moore

l

r.

IAND SYSTEM: Surprise (Tas)

Area: 1,246 ha


2 3

Appendix Cl Sheet 3

General Description: Level to gently inclined plains on transp01ied materials, with yellow and red earths and some cracking clay soils .

Geology: Cainozoic unconsolidated colluvial and alluvial deposits.

Geomorphology: Mainly stable locally erosional non-depositional sheet- flood plains formed on Cainozoic detritus, underlain by Proterozoic dolomitic rocks.

Physiography: Gently inclined with locally near level areas, imperfectly to well-drained gently undulating plains.

Flora: Mid-high open woodland of E. tectifica, E. terminalis and Erythrophleum chlorostachys; Melaleuca viridiflora in some small poorly drained depressional areas .

Fauna: Widespread woodland species including Grey- crowned Babbler, Silver-crowned Friarbird, Spotted Tree Monitor, Nmihern Dtella and Antilopine Kangaroo.

Land Unit No.

1

2

3

4

HOB0338.AC-

Area (ha)

641

588

6

11

Land form

Gently inclined plains on relict terrace deposits; slopes 1-2%

Near level plains on old terrace deposits; slopes <1 %

Alluvial flats and levees; slopes up to 1 %

Drainage floor, near flat to depressional; slopes <l %

Soils

Mostly deep yellow earths (YE2) minor yellow duplex soils in some less well-drained areas

Mostly deep red earths (RE2) minor areas of grey-brown (cracking) clays

Comment

Some small poorly drained depressions occur, with melaleuca low woodland and lateritic yellow earth soils

Well-drained very slight rises or very slightly elevated areas

Deep uniform sil iceous sands Of minor occurrence in the (SS 1) north east sector

Mostly grey, some brown (cracking) clays (Gl)

Low-lying poorly drained areas of minor occurrence

Hollingsworth Dames & Moore

I

D

c 0

2

LAND SYSTEM: Unnamed (PT)

Area: 2,248 ha


Ta m 2

Appendix Cl Sheet 4

General Description: Near level alluvial backplains with some poorly drained often swampy depressions, with deep brown (cracking) clay soils.

Geology: Cainozoic Quaternary alluvium - predominantly clays.

Geomorphology: Alluvial back plains of the McArthur River system with deep gilgaied cracking clay soils; now infrequently flooded .

Physiography: Near flat, gilgaied plains with gently inclined intensively dissected and eroded marginal slopes adjacent to the McArthur River floodplain and levee system.

Flora: Tall open grassland of Chrysopogon phallax and Brachyachne convergens with low open woodland of E. microtheca, Lysiphyllum cunninghammii, E. terminalis, E. papuana.

Fauna: Woodland and Grassland species including Red-backed Fairy-Wren, Golden-headed Cisticola, Spectacled Harewallaby, Agile Wallaby, Long-haired Rat and Black Whip Snake.


1 1,508 Near level little dissected Mostly deep brown Includes areas with higher parts of the floodplain; ( cracking)clays (BCl); some s il ice ou s/ferru gin ou s lag slopes <1 % brown (non-cracking) clays gravel surface layer -

sparsely vegetated and with less cracking evident

2 740 Gently inclined marginal Mostly deep brown (cracking) Locally the unit has the slopes which are intensively clays (BC2), locally tending to appearance of shallow dissected and eroded weakly developed brown badlands erosion

duplex soils on the mounds of diffuse gilgai

HOB0338.AC- Hollingsworth Dames & Moore

4

IAND SYSTEM: McArthur (Tam)

Area: 483 ha

Geomorphic Province: G2, G4, GS, G6

3 2

Appendix Cl Sheet 5

General Description: Narrow to broad fluvial plains fringing the major drainage systems with grey and brown clays, deep siliceous sands and alluvial soils.

Geology: Quaternary alluvium.

Geomorphology: Alluvial plains, stream tenaces and levees along the McArthur River and its major tributaries. These river lands are mainly active depositional landf01ms of Quaternary alluvia except where the river becomes entrenched traversing through the Bukalara Plateau region .

Physiography: Near level to gently inclined floodplains, stream terraces and levees characterised by shallow depressional to incised streams connecting billabongs and depressional drainageways.

Flora: Tall woodland and tall closed forest along the banks of the major stream lines comprising E. papuana, E. microtheca, Casuarina cunninghamiana and Melaleuca spp.

Fauna: Specialised species adapted to riverine forest and semi aquatic habitats. These include Purple-crowned Fairywren, Azure Kingfisher, White-browed Robin, Agile Wallaby, Gilbert's Dragon and Freshwater Crocodile. Seasonally important habitat for migrat01y birds and dry season refuge habitat for reptiles and amphibians.

Land Unit No.

1

2

3

4

HOB0338.AC-

Area (ha)

312

142

29

Land form

Floodplain with braided stream lines and depressional drainage ways

Intermediate stream terraces and broadly rounded levees

Narrow tributary drainage floors

Fluvial plains of the coastal tract

Soils

Grey-brown (cracking) clay soils (Gl); some brown (noncrncking) clays included

Deep sandy and loamytextured alluvial soils (ASl)

Mainly yellow-brown duplex (podzolic) soils (YPl)

Siliceous sands overlain in parts by stratified alluvial soils (AS2)

Comment

Higher parts of the floodplain

Intermediate terrace levels with braided channels

Some occurrences of yellow ea1ths and grey-brown clays

In places the soil profiles have the appearance of being pseudo yellow-brown podzolic soils

Hollingsworth Dames & Moore

APPENDIX C2

Description of Land Systems at Bing Bong

LAND SYSTEM: Spillen (Tos) oll 1

AREA:

OBSERVATIONS:

GEOMORPHIC PROVINCE: G6

2 1 3

Appendix C2 Sheet 1

1 4 11

I I

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Coastal sand sheets, dunes and cheniers with minor intervening tidal flats. Siliceous sands and yellow podzolic soils. TG of Vetiveria elongata with some Melaleuca viridiflora, Melaleuca nervosa, Pandanus spiralis and E. papuana.

UNIT % LAND FORM SOILS VEGETATION COMMUNITIES *

70 Almost level plains on layered Siliceous sands and sandy yellow TO of Vetiveria elongata with some littoral alluvia, with an overlay podzolics. Me(aleuca nervosa and Pandanus spiralis. of windblown sand.

2 20 Youthful foredune systems and Yellowish siliceous and calcareous TOW of E. papuana with Casuarina cheniers. sands. equisetifolia.

3 9 Ancient eroded dunes with Hydrophobic reddish siliceous TO of Vetiveria elongata and some calcified dune cores. sands. E.papuana.

4 Small tidal mud flats. Marine alluvia. LICS Isolated Melaleuca acacioides and Halosarcia spp.

*See Table G.2.1 of Appendix G for vegetation communities' structural classification.

Unit 1 Unit 2.

Unit 3

Appendix C2 Sheet 2

LAND SYSTEM: McArthur (Tam) 4 1 3 2

AREA:

OBSERVATIONS:

GEOMORPHIC PROVINCE: G2, G4, GS, G6

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Broad or narrow fluvial corridors conducting regional drainage across various land systems towards the coast. Grey and brown clays and siliceous sands. MHOW of E. terminalis and E. microtheca with some E. papuana and E. polycarpa. 'Tall fringing riparian vegetation often includes Melaleuca spp.

UNIT %

40

2 30

3 20

4 IO

LANDFORM

Braided stream systems with mainly clay flocxlplains; banks eroding.

Meandering stream systems with low terraces, levees and mainly sandy floodplains; banks eroding.

Broad, anastomosing fluvial systems in the coastal tract.

Narrow, inland drainage floors.

SOILS

Grey and brown clays, minor black earths.

Yellowish siliceous sands, reddish earthy sands, and clay soils.

Siliceous sands, yellow earths and yellow pcxlzolics.

Grey and brown clays, some alluvial soils.

VEGETATION COMMUNITIES *

MHOW of E. terminalis and E. microtheca.

MHOW to TOW of E. tectifica, E. terminalis and Erythrophleum chlorostachys with E._papuana and E. po/year-pa.

MHOW of E. tetrodonta and Callitris i_ntratropica with E._papuana.

MHOW to TOW of E. microtheca and E. polycarpa. - -

*see Table G.2.1 of Appendix G for vegetation communities' structural classification.

Unit 1 Unit2

Unit 3 Unit 4

LAND SYSTEM: Wulkulyi {Tpw)

AREA:

OBSERVATIONS:

GEOMORPIDC PROVINCE: G5,G6

3 I I I ,, .... , _____ ,, --

2

Appendix C2 Sheet 3

1 2

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Seasonal and perennial swamps and poorly drained, low-lying areas. Humic gleys, yellow podzolic soils and undifferentiated clay soils. MHW of M elaleuca nervosa.

UNIT % LAND FORM SOILS VEGETATION COMMUNITIES * .50 Permanent closed swamps, mainly (Probably grey clays and humic Not sampled.

lenticular and with a sub-coastal gleys). orientation.

2 20 Seasonally flooded fringe around Silty yellow earths and yellow MHOW of Mtlaleuca nervosa. unit I, with marginal laterite podzolic soils. outcrop.

3 20 Almost flat sub-circular Earthy sands or gilgaied, mottled MHW of Mdalt uca nervosa. depressions with an clays . alluviaVpaludal infill.

4 10 Swampy areas with brackish or (Probably humic gleys). Not sampled. fresh water near the coast.


Unit2 Unit 3

LAND SYSTEM:

AREA:

OBSERVATIONS:

GEOMORPHIC PROVINCE:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

UNIT % LAND FORM

Fletcher (Lwf) 1 2 3

G6

1

Appendix C2 Sheet 4

2 1

Level to very gently undulating plains on ferruginous material (laterite) that has been re-exposed from a former sub-marine position, with swales in a sub-coastal orientation. Earthy sands and yellow podzolic soils. TOW of E. tetrodonta Lwith Melaleuca viridiflora, Melaleuca nervosa and Callitris intratropica.

SOILS VEGETATION COMMUNITIES * 70 Very gently inclined plains on Gravelly earthy sands. TOW of E. tetrodonta with

lateritc. Melaleuca viridiflora.

2 1.5 Small, separate, regularly istributed swales, often swampy.

Silty yellow podzolic soils. MHW of Melaleuca nervosa.

3 1.5 Slight rises. Yellowish gravelly earthy sands. MHOW of E. tetrodonta and Callitris intratropica.


Unit 1 · Unit2

Unit 3

LAND SYSTEM: Littoral (Toi) 3

AREA:

OBSERVATIONS:

GEOMORPHIC PROVINCE: G6

Toa 1

Appendix C2 Sheet 5

2 Sea

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Tidal mud flats with channels and estuaries. Laterite sheets commonly exposed. Undifferentiated marine deposits. Mostly bare areas with isolated clumps of _ Melaleuca acacioides and halophitic forbs. Mangroves fringe the shoreline and banks of tidal waterways.

UNIT % LAND FORM SOILS VEGETATION COMMUNITIES * 75 Broad almost flat plains with Undifferentiated marine mud and Bare flats with low isolated clumps of

marine mud, and laterite sheets silt deposits. Mdaleuca acacioides and a very sparse outcropping over 30%. to dense cover of Halosarcia indica.

2 15 Mangrove lined inlets and Marine silt ~OF of mangroves including shorelines. A"icennia marina, Rhizophora stylosa

and Ceriops tagal. ·

3 10 Almost flat relict marine terraces, Mottled, silty clay soils. .\!HOF of Mdale1u:a ner\'OSa. in slightly inland locations.

* See Table G.2.1 of Appendix G for vegetation communities' structural classification.

Unit 1 Unit2

Unit2 Unit 3

,

APPENDIX C DESCRIPTIONS OF LAND SYSTEMS

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