257

Site number:

257

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1969/12/19

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On a moderately steep ridge surface amongst rocks, leading to the low peak of Mt Zanuck about 75m below the summit; in places on the ridge, patches of soil with fine material between bedrock outcrops, are present

Altitude:

2400 m

Aspect:

SW

Slope:

15 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-40 °C

Frozen ground depth:

35 > cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

>35cm

Geology

Geological setting:

The rocks are granites with fracturing along joint planes; fine material, derived either from wind blown accumulation or from insitu fragmentation has accumulated in clefts in the bedrock

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Appreciable staining on adjacent rock outcrops but no cavernous weathering; rock fragmentation by splitting along joint planes; salts present beneath some surface boulders and along rock fracture faces

Soil

Soil parent material:

Accumulated fine debris from granitic rocks

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Patchy snow cover is present but no thawing observed

Biological activity:

Nil observed