538

Site number:

538

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1988/01/11

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Toward the southwestern end of Towle Valley; the site is adjacent to a rocky dolerite knoll on the valley floor

Altitude:

1150 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Mountain, xerous to subxerous

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-26 °C

Frozen ground depth:

50 < cm

Frozen type:

dry-frozen

Frozen comment:

<50cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Towle Valley is formed almost entirely in dolerite; the tills, moraines and soils indicate a northeasterly retreat of the Towle Glacier from the valley; land surfaces on the lower valley floor appear not to be very old; the tills may be rather old but may have been over-ridden by repeated incursions of the Towle Glacier into the valley; a few granite clasts are present; there may have been some re-working of older tills

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Strong surface oxidation of dolerite boulders and outcrop surfaces; distinct and moderately deep pitting on bedrock and surface clasts; non pavementic or ventiformed

Soil

Soil parent material:

Fragmented dolerite from bedrock fretting

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Recent snow cover shows evidence of thaw, especially against rocks; the soils are moist in places and appear to be periodically wet

Biological activity:

Some yellow and orange lichen