334

Site number:

334

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/11/27

Reason Sampled:

Rock weathering examination

Description:

3.5km N of Taylor Glacier and 0.5km from the Rhone Glacier; on a granite knoll which has strongly developed cavernous weathering in the bedrock; the sample site is a granite outcrop with strong oxide staining

Altitude:

1425 m

Aspect:

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-25 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

Granite outcrops on a knoll W of and 200m above the Rhone Glacier; bedrock granite exposures have been deeply eroded by cavernous weathering and deflation; the upper rock surfaces however are oxide stained and are hardened and resist erosion; most of the erosion takes place on the rock underside leaving thin oxide stained shells; the question is what is the nature of the case hardening and the surface rock shell

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Oxidation and hardening of upper surfaces of granite

Soil

Soil parent material:

Rock sample of oxide stained, case hardened rock shell

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 4/5 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Rock surfaces are occasionally moistened following summer snow falls, for a few hours, when the snow may melt

Biological activity:

Nil observed