241

Site number:

241

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1969/12/09

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Approximately 6.5 km NE of Mount Blackburn at the head of Long Valley, on a high altitude, westward trending, Beacon Sandstone broad ridge, on a step on the ridge

Altitude:

2550 m

Aspect:

W

Slope:

3 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-40 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

The sedimentary sequence is about 550m of Beacon Group rocks overlying the Kukri Peneplane cut in granite basement; The sediments are generally quartzitic sandstones and silty shale with occasional conglomerate; dolerite intrusive rocks cap the ridge top

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Between bedrock exposures are thin patchy accumulations of disaggregated sandstone; the Beacon rocks show typical horizontal sandstone fragmentation patterns; there is little oxidation of the sandstone or little cavernous weathering; occasional dolerite clasts, probably from upslope, are strongly stained with deep 5-7cm deep pits on upper surfaces and have salt accumulations beneath

Soil

Soil parent material:

Weathered disaggregated sandstone with minor dolerite and other crystalline rock fragments

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Patchy snow cover but no signs of thawing

Biological activity:

Nil observed