344

Site number:

344

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/12/02

Reason Sampled:

Rock weathering examination

Description:

South side of the Labyrinth, approximately 200m from the Wright Upper Glacier ice front; a strongly dissected relict landscape formed in dolerite with extensive rock disintegration through columnar jointing; sample from a rock joint to give an indication of weathering since ice retreat

Altitude:

825 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-25 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

The Labyrinth is a fossil erosional landscape with a complex geomorphic and glacial history; there is scarcely any till in the channelised landscape but there are accumulations of slope debris and wind drift materials; close to the glacier margin the rock jointing and other weathering features indicate that the landscape is being exhumed; materials in cracks in the rocks may provide an indication of the weathering history

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Partial rounding of rock debris with some variable surface staining; scattered salts in material in clefts; rock surfaces are partly oxidised; some of the weathering features may be relict

Soil

Soil parent material:

Rock joint weathering debris

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

Soil moisture status:

Dry site

Biological activity:

Nil observed