778

Site number:

778

Authors:

IBC,GGC,MRB,DIC

Date recorded:

1994/01/21

Reason Sampled:

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; this site is at the same location as site 777 but is 2m away and in a patterned ground crack; if there has been ongoing accumulation of weathering material in the polygon crack, a stronger possibility exists for the preservation of endolithic algae

Altitude:

1775 m

Aspect:

-

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central Mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

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

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 5 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

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