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Coongulla (Cg)

Geology

Freshwater sediments, mainly alluvium and fan deposits, deposited during the
Pliocene to Early Pleistocene Epochs (5 to 1.8 mya).

Landform

Rolling low hills. The terrain is weakly to moderately dissected.
    Map: Thumbnail of Coongulla Region
MAP: Coongulla soil map unit
Original Vegetation

The original vegetation was a mixed forest mainly comprising Stringybark and Box.
Eucalyptus globoidea is dominant with other species including E. sideroxylon, E. tereticornis, E. muellererana and E. goniocalyx (Aldrick et al. 1992). Much of the area has now largely been cleared.

Photo: Lake Glenmaggie and Heyfield
This photo indicates the position in the landscape of the Coongulla map unit and the density of the vegetation that occurs on it.
      Previous Maps and Reports

      This map unit is included within the
      Stockdale Land System as described by Aldrick et al. (1992).

      Soils

      Most of the soils on this map unit are texture contrast soils, with hard-setting gritty loam to fine sandy clay loam surface soils abruptly overlying yellowish brown and yellow mottled clays from about 25 to 40 cm. Quartz gravel and small stones are a common feature of these soils. Remnants of lateritic material, or strongly cemented conglomerate, often termed ironstone, may occur at the surface or within the soil profile. Small, localised areas of deep sand may occur within this map unit.

      Photo: Stony soil profile in road cutting near Lake Glenmaggie.
      Stony soil profile in road cutting near Lake Glenmaggie.

Chemical and Physical Analysis


In lower rainfall areas the subsoils appear to be dispersive and are likely to be
sodic. The surface soils are likely to have a pH less than 5.5. The soils are generally classified as Yellow or Brown Sodosols using the Australian Soil Classification. In higher rainfall areas, the subsoils may be strongly acid and these soils are classified as Kurosols. Site GP85 is an example of a Brown Kurosol located near Lake Glenmaggie.

Land Use

Most of the soils are cleared and used for grazing. They have little horticultural potential.



Coongulla with Glenmaggie (Cg/Gm)




This map unit is similar to Coongulla, but 30% or less of the area is comprised of the
Glenmaggie map unit.
MAP: Coongulla with Glenmaggie map unit

Coongulla and La Trobe (Cg:Lt)

This is a complex map unit comprising between 30% and 70% of either unit.

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