Site Information

Site number:
552
Authors:
IBC, GGC
Date recorded:
1988/01/20
Reason Sampled:
Soil weathering examination
Description:
Walcott Bay, to the south of Walcott Glacier; approximately 1.5km from the Koetlitz Glacier; a stream channel with an outcrop of brown sediment, possibly till
Altitude:
300 m
Aspect:
NE
Slope:
25 °
Location Data
Observer IBC GGC
GPS No
Latitude Longitude DMS 78° 13' S 163° 29' E 78° 12.5' S 163° 22' E
Latitude Longitude DD -78.217 163.483 -78.208 163.367
Latitude longitude precision DD 0.008 0.008 0.004 0.008
Locality Royal Society Range; Transantarctic Mountains
Survey Ross Island & Vicinity, Antarctica, 1:250 000 US Geological Survey, 1986

Climate

Soil climate zone:
Coastal Antarctic
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-20 °C
Frozen ground depth:
0 cm
Frozen type:
Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:
Tills on the lower slopes of the Walcott Bay region are Ross Glacial deposits and are mainly sandy gravels; the stream section shows some finer textured sediments which may be fluvial or old till deposits
Patterned ground:
Nil
Surface weathering or surface features:
Some needle ice activity

Soil

Soil parent material:
Fine textured sediment
Previous disturbance:
Nil
Soil weathering stage:
Soil moisture status:
Oceanic subxerous; an adjacent stream bed currently not flowing
Biological activity:
Nil observed
Profile Description
HorizonDepthDescription
552a 0 – 5 cm yellowish brown to dark yellowish brown (10YR 5/4 - 4/4 moist) silty sand; firm,
552b 0 – 5 cm light grey (10YR 7/2) sandy to silty gravel; very firm to hard; few to many very fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) oxidised patches (mottles); rock particles subrounded and unstained

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
552a 0-5cm 0.0 5.0 No
552b 0-5cm 0.0 5.0 No
Particle size distribution
Sample name< 2 mm2 - 0.5 mm0.5 - 0.25 mm0.25 - 0.1 mm0.1 - 0.05 mm0.05 - 0.02 mm0.02 - 0.002 mm< 0.002 mmFe2O3CaCO3Notes
552a
552b
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
552a :
552b :
National Soil Archive Samples
Sample nameNSA Sample IdContainer typeFraction type
552a M22/4069 medium coarse
552a M22/8014 Glass vial metal lid
552b M22/4070 large sq coarse
552b M22/8015 Glass vial metal lid

Photos

Photo record:
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