546

Site number:

546

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1988/01/17

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

New Valley, approximately 1.5km northwest of New Mountain on the south side of the upper Taylor Glacier; in a narrow high valley on the valley floor; on a ridge between Arena Valley and New Valley on an outcrop of dolerite

Altitude:

1600 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

55 cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen over ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

55cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Dolerite and sandstone outcrop on ridges; the lower part of New Valley has granitic till with the granite diminishing in abundance further up the valley; the granite has come from a down-valley source

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Well developed pebble/cobble pavement with no upstanding boulders; moderately to strongly stained and polished surface rocks; moderately ventiformed and some pitting; some advanced boulder disaggregation

Soil

Soil parent material:

Sandy to silty till from dolerite, sandstone and granite with possible paleosol

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous to subxerous; occasional light summer snow falls with some brief slight surface soil moistening

Biological activity:

Nil observed