420

Site number:

420

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1978/11/12

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Approximately 4.3km NE of Mount Ash on a sloping valley floor moraine; the second distinct moraine surface

Altitude:

1100 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-25 °C

Frozen ground depth:

10 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

10cm

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 well developed cobble pavement with larger clasts abraded on-up wind sides; moderate surface staining but may be partly relict

Soil

Soil parent material:

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

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 2/3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

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

Biological activity:

Nil observed