Site Information

Site number:
564
Authors:
IBC, GGC
Date recorded:
1988/01/26
Reason Sampled:
Soil biological examination
Description:
100m northwest of Scott Base; an uneven sloping site alongside a fuel pipeline
Altitude:
30 m
Aspect:
SE
Slope:
5 °
Location Data
Observer IBC GGC
GPS No
Latitude Longitude DMS 77° 51' 3" S 166° 45' 11" E 77° 51' 0" S 160° 45' 25" E
Latitude Longitude DD -77.8508 166.7530 -77.850 160.7569
Latitude longitude precision DD 0.00015 0.00015 0.0015 0.0009
Locality Ross Island; Hut Point Peninsula
Survey Ross Island & Vicinity, Antarctica, 1:250 000 US Geological Survey, 1986

Climate

Soil climate zone:
Coastal Antarctic
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-18 °C
Frozen ground depth:
0 cm
Frozen type:
Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:
Rocks of the area are McMurdo Volcanics with a thin till cover; the drift mantle is patchy
Patterned ground:
Weakly developed broad nets
Surface weathering or surface features:
Some overturned cobbles and boulders with carbonate coatings

Soil

Soil parent material:
Locally derived scoria drift with accessions of sedimentary and crystalline rocks from the mainland
Previous disturbance:
Extensive treading and landscape disturbance from base site activity; fuel pipeline nearby; possibly fuel contaminated
Soil weathering stage:
6 1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)
Soil moisture status:
Oceanic subxerous; a moist environment with summer thaw
Biological activity:
Some scattered moss
Profile Description
HorizonDepthDescription
564a 0 – 5 cm light olive grey (5Y 6/2) sandy gravel; moist; moderately cohesive; moderately developed vesicular structure

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
564a 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
564a
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
564a :

Photos

Photo record:
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