364

Site number:

364

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1972/12/10

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On the SE side of the Wright Valley on the NE side of the Meserve Glacier; beyond the furthermost distinct moraine ridge approximately 600m NE of the glacier edge; a long smooth sloping low relief surface

Altitude:

600 m

Aspect:

N

Slope:

18 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-22 °C

Frozen ground depth:

80 > cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

>80cm

Geology

Geological setting:

The site is part of a moraine sequence associated with former advances of the Meserve Glacier, an alpine glacier; moraines closest to the glacier have more distinct topography and moraine form; moraines are dated by the inclusion of debris from volcanic cones in the neve area; this surface may be older than alpine 3 which is estimated to be between 3.6 and 2.2my

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Boulders above the ground surface are rare; surface clasts are well rounded and moderately ventiform; oxidation more distinct than on surfaces closer to the glacier; salts beneath surface stones a well developed pebble and cobble pavement

Soil

Soil parent material:

Mainly granite and schist derived sandy gravel till; possibly some black scoria seen in the samples?

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3/4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous to subxerous; little water available from snow melt but occasionally from light summer snow falls;

Biological activity:

Nil observed