The nature and distribution of sesquioxide-rich duricrusts within the Darling Range region of South-Western Australia

This thesis focusses on the lateritic weathered profiles of the Darling Range region of southwestern Australia. In particular, it details the physical and chemical nature, and topographical relationships of the uppermost concreted or duricrusted zone of such profiles. The primary aim of the thesis is to demonstrate that this zone has resulted from the re-working of the lateritic profiles to the extend that it now represents a dissected and partially eroded, relict feature within the overall landscape. Further, that the duricrust together with the underlying clay-rich zones are polygenetic in their formation is reflecting several distinct periods of weathering and re-working.