Site Information

Site number:
498
Authors:
IBC, GGC
Date recorded:
1983/01/13
Reason Sampled:
Soil characterisation
Description:
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

Soil

Soil parent material:
Partly weathered, disaggregating coarse grained dolerite bedrock
Previous disturbance:
Nil
Soil weathering stage:
6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)
Soil moisture status:
Xerous; occasional pockets of snow but no thawing
Biological activity:
Occasional patches of yellow lichen in exfoliation cracks
Profile Description
HorizonDepthDescription
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

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
498a 2-0cm -2.0 0.0 No
498b 0-10cm 0.0 10.0 No
498c 10-20cm 10.0 20.0 No
Sample solution chemistry
Sample namepHNa meq/100gCa meq/100gMg meq/100gK meq/100gCl meq/100gSO4 meq/100gNO3 meq/100gEC mmho/cmSoluble SaltNotes
498a                      
498b 8.33 3.6 5.6 2.0 0.03 0.01 8.2 0.5 1.41 .  
498c 8.14 2.6 5.9 1.2 0.02 0.01 9.6 0.5 1.47 .  
Particle size distribution
Sample name< 2 mm2 - 0.5 mm0.5 - 0.25 mm0.25 - 0.1 mm0.1 - 0.05 mm0.05 - 0.02 mm0.02 - 0.002 mm< 0.002 mmFe2O3CaCO3Notes
498a
498b 43.0 21.0 13.0 14.0 3.0 3.0 1.0 0.14 .
498c 55.0 20.0 12.0 5.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 0.09 .
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
498a :
498b 45.0 10.0 . . . . 15.0 20.0 . 10.0 . . . . :
498c 30.0 20.0 . . 30.0 . 10.0 10.0 . . . . . . :
National Soil Archive Samples
Sample nameNSA Sample IdContainer typeFraction type
498a M22/3559 medium coarse
498a M22/3560 White lid small fine
498a M22/7842 Glass vial metal lid
498b M22/3561 medium coarse
498b M22/3562 White lid small fine
498b M22/7843 Glass vial metal lid
498c M22/3563 medium coarse
498c M22/7844 Glass vial metal lid

Photos

Photo record:
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