61

Site number:

61

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/12/02

Reason Sampled:

Weathering examination

Description:

At the head of La Prade Valley, to the east of Shenk Pk. on the lower valley slope, just above the glacier;

Altitude:

2000 m

Aspect:

N

Slope:

5 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-35 °C

Frozen ground depth:

5 cm

Frozen type:

Stagnant glacier ice

Frozen comment:

5cm

Geology

Geological setting:

A thin veneer of ablation till overlies stagnant ice; the till is derived from local dolerites and Beacon Group sediments

Patterned ground:

A rectangular net pattern with shallow (<10cm) cracks

Surface weathering or surface features:

Soil

Soil parent material:

Young silty gravel ablation till

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous;

Biological activity:

Nil observed