359

Site number:

359

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/12/09

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On the SE side of the Wright Valley adjacent to the Meserve Glacier; a recent lateral moraine loop on the sloping valley side, approximately .5km uphill from the Meserve Hut site; 25m from the glacier edge; a drier site not subject to water flow

Altitude:

660 m

Aspect:

W

Slope:

10 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-22 °C

Frozen ground depth:

30 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

30cm

Geology

Geological setting:

The Meserve Glacier is an alpine glacier with a well developed sequence of lateral moraines; they indicate the former history of the glacier; a volcanic cone in the glacier neve provides datable material for determining the age of the moraines; the moraines date to 2.7my; advances and retreats appear to have been minor over time; this sequence gives a good basis for determining soil weathering rates; till at this site is older

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Rock clasts mainly angular; a poorly developed pavement; oxide staining on some granite clasts; a few thin salt efflorescences on some rocks

Soil

Soil parent material:

Stony till from schist, gneiss, granite and minor dolerite, sandstone and basalt

Previous disturbance:

Nil at site

Soil weathering stage:

6 1/2 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Dry soil and site

Biological activity:

Nil observed