262

Site number:

262

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1969/12/28

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Eastern end of the Cox Peaks range in a small NE trending hanging valley, about 300m above the ice level, towards the head of the valley a higher level moraine sloping surface;

Altitude:

1425 m

Aspect:

NE

Slope:

6 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

90 > cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

>90cm

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 Cox Peaks basin to level of around 1550m; the hanging valleys are part of a former landscape that has been invaded by later ice advances; this till has more erratics and represents a different ice event

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Distinct surface staining with reduction of surface boulders by weathering; some exfoliation and cavernous weathering; some salts beneath surface stones

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery granitic till with dolerite and argillaceous erratics

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3/4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Scattered snow patches but no liquid thaw observed; probably some occasional surface soil moistening

Biological activity:

Nil observed