Site Information

Site number:
204
Authors:
IBC, GGC
Date recorded:
1969/11/19
Reason Sampled:
Soil weathering examination
Description:
On the north side of Mt Mooney which forms a large nunatack near the head of the Robison Glacier; the site is on a low surface which forms a small embayment alongside a steepened ice face of the Robison Glacier on the lower north side of Mt Mooney; the surface is gently slopng with some weakly formed moraine retreat loops
Altitude:
1800 m
Aspect:
Nil
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer IBC GGC
GPS No
Latitude Longitude DMS 86° 33.4' S 145° 57' W 86° 33.4' S 145° 57' W
Latitude Longitude DD -86.5567 -145.950 -86.5567 -145.950
Latitude longitude precision DD 0.0008 0.008 0.0008 0.008
Locality Scott Glacier region, southern Trans-antarctic Mountains
Survey US Geological Survey 1:250 000, 1968, Mount Blackburn

Climate

Soil climate zone:
Inland Mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-40 °C
Frozen ground depth:
40 > cm
Frozen type:
Dry frozen
Frozen comment:
>40cm

Geology

Geological setting:
The deposit probably represents an older and distinctly weathered till, from locally derived materials, which is being exhumed by the retreat of the Robison Glacier; this provides clear evidence of the ability for ice in this environment to advance and retreat without adding to or destroying previously existing land surface features
Patterned ground:
Surface weathering or surface features:
Many clasts rounded to subrounded and some subangular; a distinct pebble pavement; some salts beneath surface stones

Soil

Soil parent material:
Older sandy gravel till from granitic and meta-volcanic rocks
Previous disturbance:
Nil
Soil weathering stage:
3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)
Soil moisture status:
Ultraxerous
Biological activity:
Nil Observed
Profile Description
HorizonDepthDescription
204a 0 – 3 cm light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) pebbly sandy silty gravel; loose; a few small salt flecks; some clasts with distinct surface staining; rock particles sub rounded to sub angular with some distinct surface staining; indistinct boundary,
204b 10 – 20 cm light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) pebbly sandy gravel; loose; some fine distinct salt flecks and a few coating on some stones; rock particles subrounded to subangular and some surface staining; some particles altered with red (10R) hues

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
204a 0-3cm 0.0 3.0 No
204b 10-20cm 10.0 20.0 No
Particle size distribution
Sample name< 2 mm2 - 0.5 mm0.5 - 0.25 mm0.25 - 0.1 mm0.1 - 0.05 mm0.05 - 0.02 mm0.02 - 0.002 mm< 0.002 mmFe2O3CaCO3Notes
204a
204b
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
204a :
204b :
National Soil Archive Samples
Sample nameNSA Sample IdContainer typeFraction type
204a M22/1179 medium coarse
204a M22/1180 medium fine
204a M22/6986 Glass vial metal lid
204b M22/1181 medium coarse
204b M22/1182 White lid small fine
204b M22/6987 Glass vial metal lid

Photos

Photo record:
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