353

Site number:

353

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/12/07

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

The w end of Dais, about 750m E of a small hill; a broad gently undulating till covered surface on an even smooth surface and on the S side of the Dais

Altitude:

825 m

Aspect:

S

Slope:

3 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-23 °C

Frozen ground depth:

70 > cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

>70cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Dais is a prominent geomorphic feature formed partly from the dolerite sill influence and also from prolonged erosion; because of the island like geomorphology, the till is not subject to local alpine influences but should represent major glacial activity in Wright Valley; further north some large marble clasts were observed suggesting the possibility of up-valley ice influence

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

A well developed pebble pavement with occasional small boulders; moderately developed ventiforms and boulder faceting; granites with some cavernous weathering; dolerite with some staining and showing some exfoliation; salts beneath some surface stones

Soil

Soil parent material:

sandy gravel till from predominantly granite with some dolerite

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Dry site, few snow patches

Biological activity:

Nil observed