Site Information

Site number:
271
Authors:
IBC, GGC
Date recorded:
1970/01/01
Reason Sampled:
Biological sample
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 a lower altitude part of the till surface at a moist site adjacent to a small pond
Altitude:
850 m
Aspect:
Nil
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer IBC GGC
GPS No
Latitude Longitude DMS 86° 1.5' S 153° 30' W 86° 1.5' S 156° 30' W
Latitude Longitude DD -86.025 -153.50 -86.025 -156.50
Latitude longitude precision DD 0.004 0.08 0.004 0.08
Locality Scott Glacier region, southern Trans-antarctic Mountains, on the West side of the Robert Scott Glacier
Survey Nilsen Plateau

Climate

Soil climate zone:
Central Mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-30 °C
Frozen ground depth:
0 cm
Frozen type:
Stagnant ice
Frozen comment:

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; soils are moist in the vicinity of the kettle holes and water flows
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:
Wet soils adjacent to ponds and small stream flows
Biological activity:
Nil observed but sample yielded bacteria and algae

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
271 No
Particle size distribution
Sample name< 2 mm2 - 0.5 mm0.5 - 0.25 mm0.25 - 0.1 mm0.1 - 0.05 mm0.05 - 0.02 mm0.02 - 0.002 mm< 0.002 mmFe2O3CaCO3Notes
271
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
271 :

Photos

Photo record:
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