421

Site number:

421

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1978/11/12

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Approximately 4.5km NE of Mount Ash on the east side of a large depression; a moraine surface which forms part of a sequence of surfaces marked by a succession of moraine loops

Altitude:

1050 m

Aspect:

NE

Slope:

10 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-25 °C

Frozen ground depth:

45 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

45cm

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:

Active nets with 1m relief; probably ice cored

Surface weathering or surface features:

Surface is non pavementic; dolerite clasts moderately oxidised; granite and sandstone weakly oxidised; many large surface boulders from 2-3m, most .75-1m; some boulders split; no ventiforms or cavernous weathering

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery gravel till from predominantly dolerite with sandstone and minor granite

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Snow in patterned ground cracks; no thaw or soil moistening

Biological activity:

Nil observed