---MORPHOLOGY & HYDROLOGY--- The granitic New England Batholiths which intruded into Paleozoic sediments during the Permian period, forms the basis of much of the region's geology. Basalt sheets flowed over the region in the tertiary period. Remnants of this stratum have been the formation of many of the wetlands in the Northern Tablelands.
The wetland is thought to have been formed by one of two geological processes. One possibility is that successive basalt flows formed broad flat valleys in the region which allowed wetlands to develop. Alternatively, inverted drainage is a possible explanation for the confinement of most wetlands in the area on basalt soils at high altitudes. Under this hypothesis, tertiary basalt flowed into partially filled granitic valleys in the area. Raised basaltic ridges are left by erosion of the more erodible granite material.
Mother of Ducks Lagoon lies on basalt. It is bounded by the Great Dividing Range to the east and south, and has a small catchment (1100 hectares) relative to its surface area. The lagoon has formed in the flat upper valley of Laura Creek which drains inland. It is subject to an irregular cycle of filling and drying.
---SOILS--- The lagoon lies on the Guyra soil association which is characterised by gleyed podosols and wiesenbodens in flat areas (Jessup,1965). The podosols have significant levels of calcium, magnesium, nitrogen and phosphorus and are intermittently waterlogged. Wiesenbodens contain less nutrients and maybe deficient in phosphorus. They are finely textured and dark coloured soils. Unique to New England Tableland lagoons, the bed of Mother of Ducks Lagoon has an unusually deep (300-500 millimetres) peat formation.
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QUESTIONS
1. What rock does Mother of Ducks Lagoon lie on?
2. What feature is unique to New England Tableland lagoons?
3. Take a photo of the lagoon with your caching name visible (can be written on paper, skin, caching shirt etc) The photo should be added to your log.