400

Site number:

400

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1977/11/28

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

A slight mound on the undulating floor of Nibelungen Valley; near a granitic outcrop; approximately 2.5km NW of Panaroma Peak

Altitude:

1425 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-28 °C

Frozen ground depth:

65 > cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

>65cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Local outcrops are dominated by Beacon Sandstone and Ferrar Dolerite; glacial sequences are similar to other alpine of the Asgard Range with old sequences of local alpine valley glaciers dominated by sandstone and dolerite; granite outcrops lower down the valley and its presence in the till may indicate up-valley movement

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Granite clasts are strongly disaggregated; dolerite is moderately stained and weakly to moderately pitted; sandstone clasts are polished with reddish oxide coatings; moderate ventiforms and some cavernously weathered sandstone

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery till predominantly from granite and with dolerite and sandstone

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Few small snow remnants from recent snow falls

Biological activity:

Nil observed