4

Site number:

4

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/10/28

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

Western side of glacial basin on the lower part of a steep slope above a frozen lake

Altitude:

250 m

Aspect:

E

Slope:

35 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-15 °C

Frozen ground depth:

30 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

30cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Slope detritus, largely disaggregated bedrock from greywacke sandstone of the Robertson Bay Group

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Extensive fresh angular and subrounded greywacke boulders, some with carbonate coatings on upper surfaces (overturned).

Soil

Soil parent material:

Greywacke slope detritus with some till

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

2 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous to subxerous

Biological activity:

Nil observed