Near the top of a broad gently sloping ridge at the northern end of Inexpressible Island
Altitude:
300 m
Aspect:
S
Slope:
3 °
Location Data
Observer
IBC
GPS
No
Latitude Longitude DMS
74° 52' S 163° 38' E
Latitude Longitude DD
-74.867 163.633
Latitude longitude precision DD
0.008 0.008
Locality
Inexpressible Island, Terra Nova Bay
Survey
USGS 1:250 000 1968; Mt Melbourne SS 58-60/9
Climate
Soil climate zone:
Coastal Antarctic
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-20
°C
Frozen ground depth:
15 cm
Frozen type:
Hard ice-cemented
Frozen comment:
15cm
Geology
Geological setting:
The surface materials are bouldery tills derived principally from rocks of the Granite Harbour Intrusives but metasedimentary rocks and occasional dolerite are more common than at lower altitudes and suggest a different phase of glacial deposition
Patterned ground:
Some small (2m) nets
Surface weathering or surface features:
Staining on surface boulders is distinct; boulders show slight to moderate cavernous weathering, exfoliation and granular disintegration
Soil
Soil parent material:
Bouldery till from granitic and metasedimentary rocks
Oceanic subxerous; no liquid water or snow present
Biological activity:
Nil observed
Profile Description
Horizon
Depth
Description
54a
0 – 15 cm
light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) sandy cobble and pebble gravel; loose; rock fragments subrounded and subangular, many with distinct surface staining and deeper oxidation; distinct boundary, on firmly frosted sandy gravel