646

Site number:

646

Authors:

IBC, GGC, MRB

Date recorded:

1991/12/05

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Approximately 1km NE of the Marble Point Air Facility on the side of a gently sloping hill with rocky outcrops; approximately 2 thirds way up the slope; a stepped surface and on a level slope

Altitude:

90 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-18 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

The coastal hills of the Marble Point region have an intermittent till mantle and bedrock outcrops in numerous places; the rocks are mainly gneisses and granodiorite; in places decomposed rock material occurs with colours ranging from blackish to reddish brown; these weathered materials may represent residual weathering from an older landscape

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Bluish and greenish decomposed rock material

Soil

Soil parent material:

Weathered gneiss and micaceous rock with strong weathering zonation

Previous disturbance:

Nil at site

Soil weathering stage:

6 5 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

A dry site, no soil moistening observed

Biological activity:

Nil at site but moss and cyanobacteria locally common