Soil distribution on Mt Erebus is restricted by the extensive ice and snow cover and by the rugged topography. Soil occurrence is limited to rock exposures, to areas kept free of ice by the hot vapours and heat of fumaroles, and to areas near the active crater. The soils of Mt Erebus are lithosols, and because of their acid reaction are unique among the soils of South Victoria Land, the Commonwealth Range, and the Bunger Oasis. Also, the mineral assemblage of these lithosols includes minerals not yet reported among the little-studied Antarctic soils. These outstanding characteristics are related to the hydrothermal processes associated with the volcanic activity of the region.