419

Site number:

419

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1978/11/12

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Approximately 4km NE of Mount Ash on a sloping valley floor moraine

Altitude:

1200 m

Aspect:

NW

Slope:

7 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-25 °C

Frozen ground depth:

20 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

20

Geology

Geological setting:

Local rocks are Ferrar Dolerite and Beacon Sandstone; the till includes some granite which is widespread lower down the Darwin Glacier, the moraine topography including the shape of terminal loops strongly suggests an ice advance into the valley; a much younger event than Asgard till of the Wright Valley

Patterned ground:

Weakly developed 10-15m nets with shallow troughs

Surface weathering or surface features:

A weakly to moderately weathered surface; weak pavement development; weak to moderate surface staining with slight pitting; some granite moderately stained and partly crumbled; few salts beneath surface stones

Soil

Soil parent material:

Gravelly moraine from sandstone, dolerite and granite; probably includes some pre weathered material

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Small snow pockets in the lee of boulders; no thaw or soil moistening

Biological activity:

Nil observed