394

Site number:

394

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1977/11/25

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On the west sloping side of Koenig Valley floor on an uneven surface with weakly developed patterned ground; the site is near the centre of a polygon unit

Altitude:

1520 m

Aspect:

NW

Slope:

6 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

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; patterned ground covers part of the valley floor surface but is generally weakly expressed with some cracks appearing inactive; soil near the centre of the polygon appears to be somewhat more weathered than at the edge

Patterned ground:

Broad 10-15m nets with weakly raised borders and <15cm troughs, weakly developed and mostly inactive

Surface weathering or surface features:

A moderately developed cobble and pebble pavement with some dolerite boulders cavernously weathered and most showing distinct rounding; moderate to strong surface staining; fine grained dolerite weakly pitted; some sandstone clasts disaggregated

Soil

Soil parent material:

Sandy gravel till from dolerite and sandstone

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Small patchy snow remnants; dry soil after previous slight surface moistening

Biological activity:

Nil observed