Site Information

Site number:
361
Authors:
IBC, GGC
Date recorded:
1972/12/09
Reason Sampled:
Salt examination
Description:
On the SE side of the Wright Valley adjacent to the Meserve Glacier; at the head of the Meserve Glacier on Mt Ulla; a small steep rocky peak with some weathered material in clefts
Altitude:
1550 m
Aspect:
Nil
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer IBC GGC
GPS No
Latitude Longitude DMS 77° 31.6' S 162° 23.5' E 77° 31.5' S 162° 23' E
Latitude Longitude DD -77.5267 162.392 -77.525 162.383
Latitude longitude precision DD 0.0008 0.004 0.004 0.008
Locality Lower Wright Valley, McMurdo Dry Valley region
Survey USGS 1:50,000 Antarctic Topo. Ser. Lake Bonney Quadrangle

Climate

Soil climate zone:
Coastal Mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-25 °C
Frozen ground depth:
0 cm
Frozen type:
Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:
The exposure is coarse grained micaceous granite
Patterned ground:
Nil
Surface weathering or surface features:
Upper surfaces of rock outcrops and boulders have moderate staining; some slight rounding and granular disintegration; a few salt efflorescences in patches on the soil surface; patches of finer material amongst more angular fragmented bedrock

Soil

Soil parent material:
Fragmented micaceous granitic sandy granular gravel from weathering of surface outcrops; patchy salts in the soils
Previous disturbance:
Nil at site
Soil weathering stage:
6 2 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)
Soil moisture status:
Dry soil and site
Biological activity:
Nil observed
Profile Description
HorizonDepthDescription
361a 0 – 5 cm light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) sandy pebbly granular gravel; loose to weakly cohesive; weakly developed vesicular structure; scattered diffuse salt patches; rock particles angular, weakly to moderately stained and partly altered

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
361 0-10cm 0 5 No
Sample solution chemistry
Sample namepHNa meq/100gCa meq/100gMg meq/100gK meq/100gCl meq/100gSO4 meq/100gNO3 meq/100gEC mmho/cmSoluble SaltNotes
361 9.2 . . . . . . . 0.35 .  
Particle size distribution
Sample name< 2 mm2 - 0.5 mm0.5 - 0.25 mm0.25 - 0.1 mm0.1 - 0.05 mm0.05 - 0.02 mm0.02 - 0.002 mm< 0.002 mmFe2O3CaCO3Notes
361 36.8 15.8 23.7 13.2 4.5 2.7 2.9 0.29 .
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
361 50.0 10.0 . . . 10.0 15.0 15.0 . . . . . . :

Photos

Photo record:
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