402

Site number:

402

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1977/11/29

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Near the head of Jotunheim Valley on the valley side to the northeast of Wolak Peak; an old morainal shoulder slope below a sandstone abutment on a moderately steep slope; about half way up the slope

Altitude:

1700 m

Aspect:

E

Slope:

9 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-32 °C

Frozen ground depth:

35 cm

Frozen type:

hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

35cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Tills near the head of the valley are derived from local alpine glaciation with a dolerite sandstone composition; the tills on the valley floor become younger up-valley; on some side slopes, the soils appear older; the valley floor has probably remained ice-covered and ablated much later than adjacent slopes which may have been ice free for a considerably longer period

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Surface boulders angular to subangular; surface stained on sandstone varies from nil to moderately strong; dolerite weakly to moderately stained; some weak granular disintegration; fine dolerite with distinct polish; some weak pitting

Soil

Soil parent material:

Dolerite and sandstone bouldery till

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Scattered small snow patches but no soil moistening

Biological activity:

Nil observed