237

Site number:

237

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1969/12/05

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

A ridge top peak to the north of Mt Czgeka; at the summit amongst rock outcrops; a narrow craggy ridge with pockets of weathering debris

Altitude:

2025 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-40 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

Coarse crystalline granitic micaceous rocks outcrop with ample evidence of rock weathering at these higher altitudes

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Rock outcrop surfaces show marked oxidation and staining; there is deep cavernous weathering with 1-2m of rock removed in places; exfoliation forms manly angular fragments; weatering extends to 30cm in places

Soil

Soil parent material:

Fragmental coarse grained biotite granite detritus

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Some small snow pockets; probable brief liquid water on rock surfaces after snow fall and thaw

Biological activity:

Yellow crustose lichen (Lecanora griseomarginata, or Acarospora emergens) in cracks in the rock