498

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 °

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