280

Site number:

280

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1970/01/07

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Approximately 3 km north of Mt Nelson on a high bench surface on the south side of the Koerwitz Glacier; an old moraine surface near the Mt Nelson ice tongue

Altitude:

1300 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-25 °C

Frozen ground depth:

35 cm

Frozen type:

Ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

35cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Moraines on elevated surfaces to the south of Koerwitz Glacier show distinct age differences between the lower and higher altitude surfaces; the younger moraines clearly show signs of a re-advance of ice from the north; granites predominate as the local rocks; the till is probably locally derived; closer to the Mt Nelson ice tongue, the surface is possibly younger than that further away indicating that the age differences may be due to the retreat of the Mt Nelson ice tongue

Patterned ground:

Surface weathering or surface features:

Some boulders up to 4m with solution grooving on sides; some smaller boulders also with small solution groove channels; surface exfoliation is marked; ventifaction is distinct; some polish on dark rocks; salts in places below surface boulders

Soil

Soil parent material:

Granitic bouldery sandy gravel

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Some water observed in rock hollows; thaw water on some rock surfaces; soils moist in patches adjacent to some boulders; snow drift patches thawing at edges

Biological activity:

Nil observed