426

Site number:

426

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1978/11/14

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

A nunatak at the edge of the Polar Plateau at the head of the Hatherton Glacier; at the eastern end of Westhaven Nunatak on a planar surface, approximately 150m above the ice level; on a small residual knoll

Altitude:

2240 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-40 °C

Frozen ground depth:

30 >

Frozen type:

Dry frozen over bedrock

Frozen comment:

>30

Geology

Geological setting:

Westhaven Nunatak is a dolerite outcrop; this area was examined to see if there were old surfaces and soils similar to those seen at the edge of the Polar Plateau in the Shackleton Glacier

Patterned ground:

Weakly developed in areas of deeper drift

Surface weathering or surface features:

Bedrock dolerite clasts are well rounded and strongly stained; non pitted; active exfoliation and crumbling; rock spalling through ice wedging and heave; few salts beneath some tabular rocks

Soil

Soil parent material:

Partly weathered doleritic bedrock

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 5/6 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Extensive snow cover but no thaw or soil moistening

Biological activity:

Nil observed