333

Site number:

333

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/11/27

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

3.5km N of Taylor Glacier and 0.5km from the Rhone Glacier; on a granite knoll which has strongly developed bedrock cavernous weathering; the site is on a smooth sloping gravelly surface between cavernously weathered granite outcrops

Altitude:

1425 m

Aspect:

S

Slope:

4 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-25 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Bedrock

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

The Rhone Glacier has a series of till deposits that increase in age in a SW direction away from the present glacier position; not far from the glacier edge, the till passes into till-free granite bedrock with well developed cavernous weathering; the weathering sequence suggests that there may have been little fluctuation of the Rhone Glacier from its present position; this granite knoll is a surface of considerable age; scattered scoria fragments on the surface may be lapilli from a nearby volcanic cone the weathering surface should pre-date the volcanic material

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Strong cavernous weathering of bedrock with tafone; up to 80cm of bedrock removal; upper surfaces of granite are oxidised and case hardened; undersides crumbly and exfoliating through salt weathering; a well developed granular/pebble gravel pavement

Soil

Soil parent material:

Weathered granite bedrock with minor volcanic (scoria) possibly lapilli

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 4/5 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Some small scattered snow patches but soil is dry

Biological activity:

Nil observed