Site Information

Site number:
284
Authors:
IBC, GGC
Date recorded:
1970/01/07
Reason Sampled:
Soil weathering examination
Description:
Approximately 4 km north of Mt Nelson on a high bench surface on the south side of the Koerwitz Glacier; an extensive flattish somewhat younger moraine sheet surface about 4km north of Mt Nelson
Altitude:
1000 m
Aspect:
NW
Slope:
13 °
Location Data
Observer IBC GGC
GPS No
Latitude Longitude DMS 85° 44' S 154° 20' W 85° 44' S 154° 20' W
Latitude Longitude DD -85.733 -154.33 -85.733 -154.33
Latitude longitude precision DD 0.008 0.08 0.008 0.08
Locality Scott Glacier region, southern Trans-antarctic Mountains, on the West side of the Robert Scott Glacier, about 30km from the coast near the Koerwitz Glacier
Survey Mount Goodale

Climate

Soil climate zone:
Coastal Mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-25 °C
Frozen ground depth:
23 cm
Frozen type:
Ice-cemented
Frozen comment:
23cm

Geology

Geological setting:
The lower altitude area of the moraine sheet appears to have the least weathering features; ice retreat has been in a northwards direction; the till is predominantly granitic but dark crystalline rocks are present
Patterned ground:
Moderately developed broad nets
Surface weathering or surface features:
Boulders are dominantly fresh with little staining or disintegration; no cavernous weathering, no salts beneath surface stones

Soil

Soil parent material:
Granitic bouldery sandy gravel till
Previous disturbance:
Nil
Soil weathering stage:
2 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)
Soil moisture status:
Some water observed in rock hollows and icicles present on shaded sides of some rocks; thawing at edges of some snow patches; the soil is moist through out, at the surface from snow melt and at the base from seasonal thaw
Biological activity:
Nil observed
Profile Description
HorizonDepthDescription
284a -2 – 0 cm surface pebbles and granular sand; unstained; subangular to subrounded,
284b 0 – 5 cm light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) sandy pebble to boulder gravel; moist in patches; weakly cohesive; weakly developed vesicular structure; rock particles subangular to subrounded and unstained; distinct boundary,
284c 5 – 23 cm light brownish grey sandy granular gravel; moist; weakly cohesive; sharp boundary, on ice-cemented ground

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
284a 2-0cm -2.0 0.0 No
284b 0-5cm 0.0 5.0 No
284c 5-23cm 5.0 23.0 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
284a
284b
284c
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
284a :
284b :
284c :
National Soil Archive Samples
Sample nameNSA Sample IdContainer typeFraction type
284a M22/1551 medium coarse
284a M22/7156 Glass vial metal lid
284b M22/1572 medium coarse
284b M22/1573 medium fine
284b M22/7157 Glass vial metal lid
284c M22/1574 medium coarse
284c M22/1575 White lid small fine
284c M22/7158 Glass vial metal lid

Photos

Photo record:
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