263

Site number:

263

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 400m above the ice level, towards the head of the valley a higher shoulder surface near the head of the valley

Altitude:

1450 m

Aspect:

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

45 > cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

>45cm

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; the till here is thin and patchy with deflated bedrock in places

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Distinct surface staining on granite boulders; few upstanding boulders and a distinct pavement; bedrock reduced to low mounds; exfoliation and cavernous weathering; some salts beneath surface stones

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery granitic till

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

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