260

Site number:

260

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1969/12/27

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On a south facing valley side in a valley just north of Cox Peaks; on the lower slopes of the valley side on a steep scree slope, about 75m above the valley floor

Altitude:

1200 m

Aspect:

S

Slope:

34 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

37 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

37cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Argillaceous sediments and volcanic and acid volcanic rocks, comprising conglomerates and breccias and intruded by granites occur in the area; the valley was formerly invaded by Ross Ice Shelf ice which entered the mouth to a level of around 1550m; subsequent retreat has left younger lower altitude surfaces which are distinctly demarcated from higher elevation surfaces; the steep slopes have scree-like granitic till deposits from the retreating and lowering ice

Patterned ground:

Weakly developed

Surface weathering or surface features:

The surface is unstable if disturbed but there are no debris cones at the base of the slope; most boulders are rounded and have some light surface staining

Soil

Soil parent material:

Silty till from predominantly granitic rocks

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 2 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Patchy snow cover is present; the soil was slightly damp

Biological activity:

Nil observed