8

Site number:

8

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/10/29

Reason Sampled:

Examination of stone coatings

Description:

Floor of a small glacially scoured basin, near Luther Peak

Altitude:

95 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-15 °C

Frozen ground depth:

5 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

5cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Till derived from schistose greywackes of the Robertson Bay Group, with some minor fluvial resorting on the valley floor

Patterned ground:

Polygonal nets weakly developed

Surface weathering or surface features:

Surface clasts subangular and unweathered, pale brown surface carbonate coatings are extensive

Soil

Soil parent material:

Greywacke till, with surficial fluvial and aeolian reworking

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Oceanic subxerous, seepage of water from thawing snow patches on adjacent areas at times

Biological activity:

Abundant crustose lichen and moss patches on the soil surface