269

Site number:

269

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1970/01/01

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Just north of the Cox Peaks and 10km east of Mt Crockett on a low moraine surface formed between the retreating Scott Glacier ice and the local ice tongue just north of the Cox Peaks; on an undulating recent till covered surface

Altitude:

900 m

Aspect:

NW

Slope:

5 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

35 cm

Frozen type:

Stagnant ice

Frozen comment:

35cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Recent moraine and tills have been deposited due to ice separation in two directions in the direction of the Scott Glacier and the valley head; the tills are forming through recent and ongoing ice ablation; the landscape is mobile with kettle holes developing, being infilled with sliding debris and forming inverted sediment cones

Patterned ground:

Polygons up to 4m with cracks snow filled

Surface weathering or surface features:

Surface boulders unweathered and subangular to subrounded

Soil

Soil parent material:

Recent bouldery till from predominantly granitic overlying stagnant ice

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Patchy snow in hollows and patterned ground cracks; meltwater pools are common and scattered small frozen lakes exposed ice at the base of the soil thaws quickly

Biological activity:

Nil observed