508

Site number:

508

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1983/01/19

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Approximately 2km WSW of Battleship Promontory; a very old dolerite surface with dolerite tors and rounded spheroidal weathering; an undulating surface with small smooth hollows; the site is on the floor of a hollow

Altitude:

1500 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

Ferrar Dolerite forms extensive sills; the surface is an old over-ridden landscape with a mammillated topography;

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Dolerite is strongly stained; rock surfaces are exfoliating and rounded; some surface salts present; a fine pebble pavement

Soil

Soil parent material:

Granular gravel accumulated from exfoliation of dolerite

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 5 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous; scattered small snow patches on adjacent slopes; the soil is slightly moist

Biological activity:

Nil