Publication Date

7-1998

Publisher

Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISSN

1441 - 3647

Abstract

In Western Australia, granite outcrops rise from the surrounding countryside like an extensive island chain, stretching from the high rainfall south-west to the arid interior. They are extremely rich in biodiversity, which can change dramatically from outcrop to outcrop. They may contain relics of unique plant and animal populations and are very significant for nature conservation.

Granite outcrops can also be a major source of groundwater recharge within catchments, especially where the surrounding fringe and woodland vegetation has been cleared.

What is granite?

*Granite is an igneous rock consisting of large crystals of quartz, feldspar and mica or hornblende.

* Much of Western Australia is made of an ancient continental mass composed principally of granite, known as the Yilgarn block.

* The Yilgarn block was formed about 2,600 million years ago and has since been greatly eroded to become the flat landscape we see today.

* The basement granite is generally covered by a layer of soil, but in places the granite has been uncovered to expose granite outcrops.

Number of Pages

39

Keywords

Granite, Revegetation, Western Australia, Hydrology

Disciplines

Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Geology | Hydrology | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Soil Science | Water Resource Management

Maps

Maps are not included as part of the complete document download. If this report contains a map, it will be available in the individual parts list below.

Download

This file is 18.8 MB. Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS