425

Site number:

425

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1978/11/13

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On the south side of Diamond Hill, approximately 4.5km to the SW; on the side of a broad sloping bench and shallow ridge on a very bouldery young moraine surface; the site is 5m to the east of site 424 within the same patterned ground unit

Altitude:

450 m

Aspect:

S

Slope:

22 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-24 °C

Frozen ground depth:

45 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

45cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Local rocks are granites and gneiss but till covers the lower slopes and includes some dolerite and sandstone

Patterned ground:

Weakly developed broad nets; possible solifluction lobes on steeper slopes; may be greater site stability than for site 424

Surface weathering or surface features:

Some larger rocks spalling and moving apart by ice wedging; many rocks are moderately stained and partly rounded; some granular disintegration of granite clasts; and pitting, cavernous weathering and ventiforms are negligible; non pavementic

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery till with mixed lithology; the soil is deeper and appears a little more weathered

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Patchy snow cover from recent fall with thawing at edges and localized soil moistening

Biological activity:

Nil observed