413

Site number:

413

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1977/12/10

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

At the eastern end of the Insel Range, approximately .4km to the west of Mt Insel; a bouldery undulating feldsenmeer surface from frost weathered dolerite;

Altitude:

1275 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-26 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

Ferrar Dolerite forms the surface of the Insel Range; to the west, patches of till occur but the eastern is essentially till free; the surface materials, fragmented dolerite have formed by freeze/thaw in the dolerite joint planes resulting in a very bouldery surface interspersed with patchy bedrock and some accumulation of finer fragmental material; no evidence of granite erratics was observed

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Dolerite surfaces are strongly stained; rock edges are rounded; some cavernous weathering in coarse grained outcrops or boulders; some weak intermittent pitting; boulders are commonly up to 1m

Soil

Soil parent material:

Fragmented dolerite and windblown sand, probably from Beacon Group rocks

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Extensive patchy snow; surface 3cm is moist

Biological activity:

Nil observed