Site Information

Site number:
756
Authors:
MRB, DIC
Date recorded:
1994/01/12
Reason Sampled:
soil moisture and permafrost characterisation
Description:
From a wide saddle on the eastern end of Dais, 15 west of a large granite boulder
Altitude:
700 m
Aspect:
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer IBC GGC
GPS No
Latitude Longitude DMS 77° 31.3' S 161° 40.4' E 77° 33.4' S 161° 20.6' E
Latitude Longitude DD -77.5217 161.6730 -77.5567 161.3433
Latitude longitude precision DD 0.0008 0.0008 0.0008 0.0008
Locality Wright Valley from a surface on the top of Dais
Survey not recorded

Climate

Soil climate zone:
Central Mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-24 °C
Frozen ground depth:
0 cm
Frozen type:
Dry frozen, loose
Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:
The Dais is an old landsurface which has probably been cut during very early glaciation of Wright Valley with the prominant steps in the surface being in part a result of the existence of dolerite sills in the local granite/granodiorite bedrocks; surficial deposits on the surface of Dais are old tills; some of these appear to have originated from a down-valley source as boulders of marble, similar to the basement rock marbles of Marble Point at the eastern end of the valley
Patterned ground:
Surface weathering or surface features:

Soil

Soil parent material:
Bouldery till
Previous disturbance:
Soil weathering stage:
6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)
Soil moisture status:
Xerous
Biological activity:
Profile Description
HorizonDepthDescription
756e pale olive (5Y 6/3) gravelly sand; loose
756a 0 – 5 cm light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) gravelly sand; loose; rock particles subangular and non to weakly stained,
756b 5 – 35 cm light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) sandy to silty gravel with 70% > 2mm; loose; rock particles subangular to subrounded and unstained,
756c 35 – 55 cm light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) cobbly to bouldery sandy to silty gravel with 70% > 2mm; loose; rock particles subangular to subrounded and unstained,
756d 55 – 75 cm pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) gravelly silty sand with few cobbles and boulders; loose; rock particles subrounded and unweathered,

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
756a 0-5 0 5 0.65
756b 5-35 5 35 2.05
756c 35-55 35 55 2.71
756d 55-75 55 75 Yes
756e 1.03
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
756a 0.65
756b 2.05
756c 2.71
756d 2.89
756e 1.03
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
756a :
756b :
756c :
756d :
756e :

Photos

Photo record:
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