72

Site number:

72

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/12/06

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

Crilly Hill on the North side of McGregor Glacier; on the upper part and West side of a broad convex sloping till covered ridge

Altitude:

1900 m

Aspect:

SW

Slope:

7 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-30 °C

Frozen ground depth:

70 cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen over hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

70cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Low hills on the North side of McGregor Glacier are mainly Beacon Group rocks covered with bouldery dolerite and sandstone till

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

A distinct pavement comprising rounded, stained and exfoliating dolerite cobbles is formed; moderately ventiform; surface stability is indicated by parts of boulders above ground surface showing distinct weathering and rounding while parts below are angular and fresh

Soil

Soil parent material:

Dolerite and sandstone till with much loose sandy/silty fine material

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous; some extensive snow patches; 2cm of recent snow covers the soil and profile surface but only slight thawing and moistening of the soil surface had occurred in places

Biological activity:

Nil observed