Could the unassuming Cheung Ngau Shan in Yuen Long hold more secrets than first meets the eye? Cheung Ngau Shan stands at 220 meters above sea level. It is located in the New Territories. This mountain extends northeast of Kau Keng Shan. It also sits adjacent to Ho Hok Shan and Tseng Hang Shan.
Now, here’s something interesting. Cheung Ngau Shan doesn’t fall within any designated country park area. Its soil composition has been analyzed. The mountain consists of sandy clay loam.
Imagine standing here. Picture the ground beneath your feet. It’s a mix of sand, silt, and clay. The soil scientists call it 7.5YR 5/3. The pH level is around 6.00. It is slightly acidic.
Let’s talk numbers. The soil is made of 55.0% sand. Silt makes up 24.0%. Clay contributes 21.0%. Organic matter is minimal at 0.0 %. There is a coarse fraction of 23.0 %.
Consider the steepness of the slopes. They range from 45 to 55 degrees. The landscape is primarily grassland. The underlying rock is solid. It is coarse ash crystal tuff.
Cheung Ngau Shan might seem like just another hill. But its unique soil tells a story. It is a story of geological processes. This process takes place over millennia. This story can be extracted from the ground we stand on.