24

Site number:

24

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/11/03

Reason Sampled:

Weathering examination

Description:

A scoria patch on a moderately steep slope below a flattish surface just off the main Redcastle Ridge surface; description and sample site from the centre of a solifluction lobe

Altitude:

175 m

Aspect:

NW

Slope:

20 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-16 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 NoObs

Frozen type:

NoObs

Frozen comment:

NoObs

Geology

Geological setting:

Scoriaceous basalt, denser flow basalts and brown tuffites of the McMurdo Volcanic Group

Patterned ground:

Well developed patterned ground/solifluction lobes, coarse particles around the margins and fine material in the centres

Surface weathering or surface features:

Angular unstained surface pebbles with salt accumulations beneath some stones

Soil

Soil parent material:

Mainly coarse volcanic slope detritus reworked by patterned ground and solifluction processes

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Oceanic subxerous, soil moisture derived from occasional snowfalls and from downslope seepage from snowbanks above

Biological activity:

Nil observed