Northern end of the Cumulus Hills, 1.5km SSE of Shenk Pk. on lateral moraine mounds on a hill slope alongside a stagnant rock-covered alpine glacier; the site is on the oldest moraine ridge
Altitude:
2200 m
Aspect:
W
Slope:
25 °
Location Data
Observer
IBC
GPS
No
Latitude Longitude DMS
85° 13' S 174° 45' W
Latitude Longitude DD
-85.217 -174.75
Latitude longitude precision DD
0.008 0.04
Locality
Shackleton Glacier, Queen Maud Mountains, on mountain slopes to the south of McGregor Glacier at the Nth end of the Cumulus Hills
Survey
USGS 1:250 000 1968; Liv Glacier SV 1-10/5
Climate
Soil climate zone:
central mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-35
°C
Frozen ground depth:
25 cm
Frozen type:
Hard ice-cemented
Frozen comment:
25cm
Geology
Geological setting:
The till forms the outer of three deposits representing three retreat stages of a local alpine type glacier, the youngest being the most extensive; the larger clasts in the till are mainly dolerite but the finer fractions are probably from Beacon Group sediments
Patterned ground:
Nil
Surface weathering or surface features:
Boulders predominantly angular to subangular but with slight rounding on edges; mainly weak but distinct surface staining; some slight pitting on flat surfaces of dolerite boulders
Soil
Soil parent material:
Loose bouldery till from dolerite and sedimentary rocks
Xerous; few small scattered snow pockets but no melting observed
Biological activity:
Nil observed
Profile Description
Horizon
Depth
Description
68a
0
–
5
cm
light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy bouldery to pebbly gravel; loose to weakly cohesive; larger rock particles subangular and unstained but smaller particles subrounded with some staining and alteration; indistinct boundary,
68b
5
–
25
cm
light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) cobbley to pebbly sand; loose; salt flecks diffused throughout the horizon but more abundant nearer the top; larger rock particles angular to subangular and unstained with smaller particles subrounded, stained and altered; abrupt boundary, on frozen ground.