214

Site number:

214

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1969/11/23

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On an east-west trending part of Ackerman Ridge about 450m above the Scott Glacier; on the north side of the ridge, just off the crest

Altitude:

2200 m

Aspect:

N

Slope:

7 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-40 °C

Frozen ground depth:

80 > cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

>80cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Old till persists on even higher levels of Ackerman Ridge; the lithology is mixed however with argillite as well as granite; indications of greater age include more advanced surface weathering and more salt accumulation

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Black argillitic rocks have strong surface polish; granitic rocks are well stained and many are crumbled; no staining on undersides of surface clasts indicates surface stability; salt accumulations beneath some surface clasts

Soil

Soil parent material:

Granitic and argillitic boulder till with fines having a pulverulent rock flour consistence;

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Scattered small snow patches; weak soil crust in places suggests occasional surface moistening

Biological activity:

Nil Observed