4.5km W of the western end of the Northwind Glacier on a broad sloping uneven ridge surface formed by an outcrop of dolerite; in a slight hollow on a small step on the ridge between two dolerite knolls
Altitude:
1375 m
Aspect:
Nil
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer
IBC
GGC
GPS
No
Latitude Longitude DMS
76° 42.7' S 159° 52.8' E
76° 43' S 160° 56' E
Latitude Longitude DD
-76.7117 159.8800
-76.717 160.933
Latitude longitude precision DD
0.0008 0.0008
0.008 0.008
Locality
Convoy Range, Trans-antarctic Mountains, in the valley of the Northwind Glacier
Survey
Climate
Soil climate zone:
Central mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-27
°C
Frozen ground depth:
18 > cm
Frozen type:
Frozen comment:
>18cm
Geology
Geological setting:
Dolerite sills are extensive and outcrop, particularly on steeper and higher elevation surfaces; till is absent and weathered regolith is very patchy, occurring mainly in hollows or between upstanding bedrock outcrops
Patterned ground:
Nil
Surface weathering or surface features:
Bedrock dolerite outcrops have a weak tor-like form protruding up to 1m above the overall ground surface; in situ and disaggregated clasts are mainly rounded through exfoliation of weathering skins and wind abrasion; coarser grained dolerite shows some weakly developed cavernous weathering; surface oxidation and staining are well developed; the weathering depth is uneven and is partly spheroidal, extending down cracks between boulders exposed at the surface
Occasional patches of yellow lichen in exfoliation cracks
Profile Description
Horizon
Depth
Description
498a
-2
–
0
cm
brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy, pebbly granular gravel; weakly cohesive; abundant crystalline salt flecks; rock particles subangular moderately stained and moderately altered with salt crystals common amongst disaggregating particles; distinct boundary
498b
0
–
10
cm
brown (7.5YR 5/4) granule gravel; moderately cohesive; salt crystals amongst disaggregating rock particles; rock particles subangular, weakly to moderately stained and weakly altered; diffuse boundary,
498c
10
–
20
cm
light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) pebbly granule gravel; moderately cohesive; salt crystals amongst disaggregating rock particles; rock particles angular, weakly stained and weakly altered, on unweathered dolerite bedrock