8.5km SW of the western end of the Northwind Glacier on an extensive bench-like or terrace surface; the surface is extremely variable with patches of dolerite felsenmeer, strongly oxidised and less oxidised areas, patterned and non-patterned ground etc.
Altitude:
140 m
Aspect:
Nil
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer
IBC
GGC
GPS
No
Latitude Longitude DMS
76° 45.1' S 160° 45' E
76° 43' S 160° 56' E
Latitude Longitude DD
-76.7517 160.75
-76.717 160.933
Latitude longitude precision DD
0.0008 0.04
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:
-28
°C
Frozen ground depth:
40 cm
Frozen type:
Hard ice-cemented
Frozen comment:
40cm
Geology
Geological setting:
Dolerite and Beacon Group sediments occur locally and the regolith mantle appears to be from local materials; surface weathering features suggest a considerable age for the surface but the soil is dominantly pale coloured;
Patterned ground:
Poorly defined old nets, currently probably inactive
Surface weathering or surface features:
A well developed pavement with rounded surface dolerite cobbles and pebbles; staining ranges from strong to weak depending on the degree of abrasion; some pitted rocks are present; exfoliation skins on surface clasts are well developed; a well developed oxidation rind is present beneath some surface clasts
Xerous; no local snow patches but the soil is moist
Biological activity:
Occasional patches of yellow lichen in exfoliation cracks
Profile Description
Horizon
Depth
Description
499a
-3
–
0
cm
surface cobbles, pebbles and granules; mostly subrounded, moderate to weakly stained and moderately altered,
499b
0
–
7
cm
light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) gravelly sand; firmly cohesive; abundant salts diffused irregularly throughout; larger rock particles moderately stained; smaller particles subangular, weakly stained and weakly altered; some salt crystal accumulations around ferruginous zones; some ghosts; distinct boundary,
499c
7
–
13
cm
light yellowish brown to light olive brown (2.5Y 6/4-5/4) pebbly coarse sand; moist; moderately cohesive; rock particles subangular to subrounded, weakly stained and moderately altered; distinct boundary,
499d
13
–
40
cm
olive (5Y 5/3) pebbly sand; moderately cohesive; salt flecks precipitating on the drying soil surface; rock particles subrounded to rounded, weakly stained and moderately altered; sharp boundary, on frozen ground