Impact of fire on the Weipa Bauxite, northern Australia

R. A. Eggleton*, G. Taylor

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    18 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    More than half of western Cape York Peninsula experiences fire every dry season, and the effects of this on the bauxite are twofold: gibbsite is dehydrated to boehmite or alumina and Fe-oxyhydroxides are converted to maghemite. Effects are most significant on the earthen materials of termite nests, particularly those coating the trunks of the common Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark), and where dead trunks, branches and roots have burnt. Fire-induced dehydration of ooliths in termite nests is suggested as the source of the high-boehmite redsoil in the Weipa Bauxite deposit.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)S83-S86
    JournalAustralian Journal of Earth Sciences
    Volume55
    Issue numberSUPPL. 1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2008

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of fire on the Weipa Bauxite, northern Australia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this