383

Site number:

383

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1977/11/21

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On the second youngest moraine associated with a valley head cirque ice tongue in Koenig Valley; an uneven bouldery and gently sloping surface with the site located on the down-valley side of a moraine loop

Altitude:

1650 m

Aspect:

W

Slope:

5 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

8 cm

Frozen type:

Stagnant ice

Frozen comment:

8cm

Geology

Geological setting:

The Asgard Range is comprised of Beacon Sandstone and Ferrar Dolerite; the landscape is ancient with the high altitude valley cirques cut in pre Miocene time; subsequent glaciation has been restricted mainly to valley head cirque type activity; the glacial deposits represent accumulations of local head wall materials which have probably been weathered in place before incorporation into local glaciers; differences in moraine topography are accompanied by differences in soils on the differing surfaces

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Surface clasts mainly subangular to subrounded with some surface staining; no pitting or exfoliation

Soil

Soil parent material:

Dolerite in coarse clasts (up to .75m) that have been pre weathered

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

2 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Recent 3 cm snowfall with some thawing and water films on rock surfaces

Biological activity:

Nil observed