44

Site number:

44

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/11/19

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

A small basin approximately 1.5km southeast of the highest point on Inexpressible Island; sampled from a very bouldery surface with small (1.5m) patterned ground nets, near the centre of polygon

Altitude:

300 m

Aspect:

NW

Slope:

5 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-19 °C

Frozen ground depth:

18 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

18cm

Geology

Geological setting:

The surface materials on the higher slopes of Inexpressible Island are mainly tills from Granite Harbour Intrusives, which occur extensively in the region, but the occasional presence of other rocks such as metasedimentary basement rocks and rare dolerite suggest the tills have originated from higher up the Priestley Glacier

Patterned ground:

Well developed small (1.5m) nets

Surface weathering or surface features:

Angular and subangular surface boulders, some with distinct light oxide staining; well developed exfoliation on some boulders

Soil

Soil parent material:

Mainly granitic bouldery till reworked by patterned ground processes

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

2 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Oceanic subxerous, snow cover sparse and little liquid water available

Biological activity:

Some yellow and black lichen on a few boulders