320

Site number:

320

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/11/20

Reason Sampled:

Soil sequence weathering examination

Description:

On the SE side of Lake Bonney, immediately adjacent to and near the snout of the Hughes Glacier; a bouldery surface which forms part of a series (4th) of moraine loops marking glacial stages; the site is on the ridge of the 4th moraine loop which is marked by a ridge of boulders approximately 65m from the glacier edge

Altitude:

360 m

Aspect:

NW

Slope:

10 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-23 °C

Frozen ground depth:

35 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

35cm

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; this 4th surface on the shallow ridge crest of the moraine loop and is clearly more weathered than the surfaces nearer to the glacier

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Surface boulders medium with few upstanding; strong cavernous weathering and distinct surface staining; moraine loop surface with a subdued form

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery granitic till

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

The site is dry with no snow drift or glacier runoff

Biological activity:

Nil observed