Permafrost sampled for Dr Friedman to investigate whether endolithic life forms might be present and if so, whether they might still be viable
Description:
Approximately 1.2km southeast of West Beacon and 1.4km northeast of East Beacon towards the south end of un-named valley between East and West Beacon; an undulating bouldery moraine surface, the sample site being within 3m of a 1.5m high sandstone boulder or outcrop; the sandstone has a well oxidised surface with endolithic algae present
Altitude:
1775 m
Aspect:
-
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer
IBC
GGC
GPS
No
Latitude Longitude DMS
77° 49.7' S 160° 49.8' E
77° 49.7' S 160° 49.8' E
Latitude Longitude DD
-77.8283 160.8300
-77.8283 160.8300
Latitude longitude precision DD
0.0008 0.0008
0.0008 0.0008
Locality
Beacon Heights, on the south side of Upper Taylor Glacier between East and West Beacon
Survey
not recorded
Climate
Soil climate zone:
Central Mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-30
°C
Frozen ground depth:
18 cm
Frozen type:
hard ice-cemented
Frozen comment:
13~23
Geology
Geological setting:
Local outcropping rocks are Ferrar Dolerite and Beacon Sandstone; the till at this site is similar to most of the valley floor tills being dominated by dolerite and sandstone; some foreign rocks, possibly crystalline basement, are present in the valley tills indicating a till source from outside the valley; multiple glaciations are likely to have occurred and the surface may have been over ridden by ice leaving very thin or negligible till behind
Patterned ground:
Moderately developed polygons
Surface weathering or surface features:
A dominantly bouldery surface with dark brown stained, polished and pitted dolerite rocks indicating considerable surface age; Beacon Sandstone clasts have strong surface staining with patchy exfoliation on their surfaces
Soil
Soil parent material:
Bouldery to cobbly gravelly sand derived from sandstone and dolerite; some finer patches of strongly oxidised material in the profile
Xerous; some snow falls in winter and summer months but most is lost through ablation or by blowing away; a light fall of snow covering the ground at the time of description
Biological activity:
Endolithic life forms present on nearby sandstone boulders/outcrops