The Limestone Ranges of the Fitzroy Basin, Western Australia

Abstract

Within the field of karst morphological studies, much attention has been given to the characterisation of the various karst styles and to the rates of limestone erosion, which relate to different climatic conditions. The karsts of temperate, sub-polar and tropical humid climates have so far provided the chief bases for these comparisons in climatic morphology. Little attention has been given to the limestone terrains of tropical arid and semi-arid zones, one reason being that the lack of water results generally in retarded karst development, with a consequent reduction in their intrinsic interest. Though „dry" karst may not differ so much as humid karst does from neighboring relief of different lithology within the same morphoclimatic system, it is important that it should not be overlooked; conclusions drawn from such limestone country may have lessons of significance for the understanding of karst in general. <br /> It was with this point of view that the authors carried out field work during May—July 1959 in the Limestone Ranges of the Fitzroy Basin. This area was chosen because it possesses larger extents of thick, pure limestone than anywhere else in tropical Australia, together with an available relief, which meagre at it is, is also as great as any to be found there. <br /> The Limestone Ranges extend over 180 miles and little has been previously written on their geomorphology. The field work was therefore bound to be of the nature of a reconnaissance, especially in such matters as underground exploration.