304

Site number:

304

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/11/15

Reason Sampled:

Soil Characterisation

Description:

On the south side of Taylor Valley, approximately 3km east of Lake Bonney opposite La Croix Glacier; on the crest of a moraine ridge located below a bedrock exposure with black dyke rocks

Altitude:

350 m

Aspect:

West

Slope:

5 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-23 °C

Frozen ground depth:

120 cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

120cm; >120cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Glacial deposits in the area are formed from a complex interaction of advances from the Taylor Glacier with nearby alpine glaciers; granitic rocks are common and intruded by dolerite and dyke rocks but there are also numerous small volcanic cones which post-date glacial episodes

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

A predominantly cobble/pebble pavement with rounding of the scattered surface small boulders; some granular disaggregation with some boulders completely crumbled; occasional large boulders up to 3m have strong cavernous weathering with sculptured forms; meany clasts distinctly stained; some moderately developed ventiforms

Soil

Soil parent material:

Older sandy cobbly till from mainly granitic rocks with some dolerite and dark volcanic rocks

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Soils are dry with little evidence of liquid water; no adjacent now patches

Biological activity:

Nil observed