443

Site number:

443

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1978/11/19

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

The Darwin Mountains, just to the south of the Midnight Plateau; the site is on the side of an old moraine ridge with the ground surface falling away into a hollow beyond

Altitude:

1675 m

Aspect:

S

Slope:

10 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

85 > cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

>85cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Rock outcrops on the area are Ferrar Dolerite; the ground surfaces have been exposed following retreat of ice from the Midnight Plateau; close to the ice edge, the soils appear less weathered but distinct successional surfaces marking ice retreat are not present; with increasing distance away from the ice front, soil weathering increases

Patterned ground:

Weakly developed; inactive residual mounds

Surface weathering or surface features:

A deflated surface with a well developed pebble and cobble pavement; occasional boulders up to 25cm above the surface; sandstone clasts reduced and case hardened; dolerite clasts well stained and common pitting; moderate ventiform development; strong surface polish; undersides show little weathering; salts common beneath many clasts

Soil

Soil parent material:

Till from predominantly dolerite with some sandstone

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

5 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Thin patchy snow; no thawing or soil moistening observed

Biological activity:

Nil observed