414

Site number:

414

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1977/12/11

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On the east side of Bull Pass near the southern end; on a moraine tongue near the foot of the slope below Sandy Glacier; approximately 2.5km SSW of Mt Orestes; a sloping surface with slight undulations

Altitude:

650 m

Aspect:

SW

Slope:

7 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-24 °C

Frozen ground depth:

100 cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

100cm; >100cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Bull Pass area is complex in respect of its glaciological history; the valley side tills give an indication of the glacial and weathering sequences; south of Mt Orestes, a moraine lobe on the valley side appears to have originated from the valley side cirque occupied by Sandy Glacier; subsequent ice retreat has resulted in the surface being dissected by a small stream

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

A moderately developed pebble and cobble pavement with few upstanding boulders; some cavernous weathering; dolerite clasts weakly stained; moderately developed ventiforms; coarse grained rocks disaggregating; salts beneath a few surface stones

Soil

Soil parent material:

Alpine stony till from local dolerite, granite and sandstone

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

A recent snowfall resulted in surface soil moistening followed by rapid drying

Biological activity:

Nil observed