539

Site number:

539

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1988/01/12

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

On a high dolerite surface above and to the Southwest of the Towle Valley, approximately 8km to the southwest of the Towle Glacier; an undulating largely snow-covered bouldery surface formed by earlier ice over-riding; the site is a lower slope of a shallow gully

Altitude:

1700 m

Aspect:

NW

Slope:

4 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Mountain, xerous to subxerous

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-29 °C

Frozen ground depth:

24 > cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

>24cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Towle Valley is formed almost entirely in dolerite; the higher dissected plateau like surfaces above the Towle Valley have been exposed by ice sheet retreat; the extensive patchy snow cover may have restricted development of prolonged weathering

Patterned ground:

Weakly developed in hollows

Surface weathering or surface features:

Dolerite decomposition largely through joint fracturing and surface exfoliation; feldsenmeer surfaces formed; distinct surface staining but pitting is negligible; soils formed mostly in cracks or around boulders

Soil

Soil parent material:

fragmental disaggregated dolerite

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Extensive snow cover but little indications of significant thawing; probably occasional soil moistening

Biological activity:

Lichens are plentiful