387

Site number:

387

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1977/11/22

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

A prominent near level moraine bench surface near the mouth of Koenig Valley; a moderately bouldery surface with boulders upstanding to 75cm; the sample site in near the centre of the surface

Altitude:

1560 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

46 cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen over ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

46cm

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 on the higher bench surfaces near the valley mouth probably relate early cirque filled ice; there are occasional granite erratics

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Surface dolerite boulders subrounded to rounded with some cavernous weathering and exfoliation; strongly stained; some pitting and polish; salts beneath some surface clasts

Soil

Soil parent material:

Mainly doleritic moraine with some sandstone

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 4/5 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Snow cover from a recent fall with surface moistening to around 1cm

Biological activity:

Nil observed