342

Site number:

342

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/12/02

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On the S side of Wright Valley, approximately 4.5km from the Wright Upper Glacier; on a moraine surface to the south of the Labyrinth; a bouldery moraine knoll on the upper sloping surface of the knoll, 20m from the crest

Altitude:

1150 m

Aspect:

N

Slope:

8 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-25 °C

Frozen ground depth:

60 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

60cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Till deposits of the upper Wright Valley mark former extensions of the Wright Upper Glacier; the history of movement of this glacier is unclear; the deposit is probably Upper Wright Glacier till

Patterned ground:

Weakly developed broad nets

Surface weathering or surface features:

Boulders up to 2m and moderately rounded; upstanding to 75cm; distinct staining and dark varnished or polished surfaces; some crumbling and slight pitting; weak ventiforms; clasts fracturing rather than crumbling; a few salts under some stones; a weakly pavementic surface

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery sandy till from predominantly dolerite and sandstone; probably includes some previously weathered materials

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3/4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Dry site; no moisture from recent snow fall

Biological activity:

Nil observed