412

Site number:

412

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1977/12/09

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Towards the NE end of a distinct valley side bench in Wright Valley approximately 9.5km east of Bull Pass; a surface with concentrations of large granite boulders interspersed with bedrock outcrop and some weathered hollows

Altitude:

1010 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-25 °C

Frozen ground depth:

30 > cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

>30cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Granite outcrops in this part of the valley and shows evidence of strong weathering

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Granite outcrops and larger boulder are strongly cavernously weathered; strong surface exfoliation; some clasts are strongly oxidised and disaggregating; surface rock staining is patchy and results in case hardening on some boulders

Soil

Soil parent material:

Weathered granite bedrock; the soil surface includes some accumulated granitic material from the fragmentation of rock outcrops

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Patchy residual snow cover; surface soil moistening to 3cm

Biological activity:

Nil observed