316

Site number:

316

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/11/20

Reason Sampled:

Soil sequence weathering examination

Description:

On the SE side of Lake Bonney, near the snout of the Hughes Glacier and on a 2m high ridge 10m from the glacier edge; a bouldery surface which forms a proglacial gully alongside the edge of the glacier; part of a series (1st) of moraine loops marking glacial stages

Altitude:

350 m

Aspect:

NW

Slope:

10 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-23 °C

Frozen ground depth:

5 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

5cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Alpine glaciers show clear geomorphic evidence of former advance and retreat stages with a series of small closely spaced ridges or terminal moraines over about 100m indicating the former glacier position; weathering increases with distance away from the glacier, suggesting that there may be a considerable age difference between the moraine surfaces

Patterned ground:

Nil but soil may be ice cored

Surface weathering or surface features:

Surface boulders are angular with little surface staining

Soil

Soil parent material:

Very bouldery granitic till with minor dolerite; there may be some reworked material

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Soil is dry but moisture may be available from the adjacent glacier margin and snow apron

Biological activity:

Nil observed