255

Site number:

255

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1969/12/19

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

North of a saddle on a ridge to the NE of Mt Zanuck; an old high and broad sloping moraine surface with patterned ground

Altitude:

1575 m

Aspect:

N

Slope:

8 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-35 °C

Frozen ground depth:

40 cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen over ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

40cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Rocks on Mt Zanuck are mainly granites, some with very coarse feldspar crystals; on the high altitude northern slopes old cirque basins have till deposits, possibly lateral or terminal moraine, which appear to have remained undisturbed; subsequent glacial activity seems to have trimmed the lower slopes of the Zanuck massif

Patterned ground:

Subdued patterned ground with cracks filled with exfoliated and crumbled granite

Surface weathering or surface features:

Exfoliation and disaggregation has exposed large feldspar crystals (up to 8cm); distinct surface staining on boulders but no cavernous weathering; some slight ventifaction

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery till with predominantly biotite granite

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Few snow patches and no snow thaw observed

Biological activity:

Nil observed