Lesotho : geology, geomorphology, soils

Relatively little, on the other hand, is known about Lesotho"s geomorphology, as research has been limited. This monograph gathers together available information on these three topics -- geomorphology, geology, and soils -- in a format accessible to teachers, fieldworkers, students, and others interested in Lesotho"s natural environment. Section 1 narrates the area"s geological evolution, describing the fundamental forces which shaped the area, such as plate tectonics, sedimentation, and volcanic activity. Section 2 catalogues Lesotho"s geological resources (i.e., groundwater and minerals); Lesotho, like much of Southern Africa, underwent intrusions of kimberlite, a formation which can give rise to diamonds as well as many other minerals, during periods of extreme tectonic stress. Section 3 describes Lesotho"s geomorphology, analyzing the forces which produced its distinctive rock formations, soils, and surface characteristics. As agriculture is a major economic activity in Lesotho, and as soils are being drastically eroded, a chapter on recent processes and forms of accelerated erosion and deposition is included. Finally, Section 4 focuses on Lesotho"s soils, describing their chemical composition, how they were formed, and giving considerable attention to the distribution of soil groups (mollisols, alfisols, entisols, inceptisols, and vertisols). Includes a glossary and a 10-page list of references.