301

Site number:

301

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/11/14

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

On the south side of Taylor Valley, approximately 4km SE of the Commonwealth Glacier at the eastern end of the Kukri Hills; on a lower steep slope about 100m above the valley floor

Altitude:

350 m

Aspect:

NW

Slope:

30 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-20 °C

Frozen ground depth:

65 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

65cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Basement complex schistose and granite rocks outcrop on valley side thin drift from Late Pleistocene Ross Glaciation ice advances into the valley partly covers the slopes;

Patterned ground:

Minor solifluction terracetts

Surface weathering or surface features:

A few fine surface salt encrustations and carbonate coatings

Soil

Soil parent material:

Granitic gravel over older schistose gravel till, possibly as slope drift or solifluct

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 2 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Soil dry but evidence of wetness; adjacent snow pockets and periodic summer snowfall

Biological activity:

Nil observed