Site Information

Site number:
75
Authors:
IBC, GGC
Date recorded:
1964/12/07
Reason Sampled:
Soil characterisation
Description:
About 2 km south of Matador Mountain on an extensive till plain; on a slight terrace, a few m above the lowermost till surface
Altitude:
1625 m
Aspect:
Nil
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer IBC
GPS No
Latitude Longitude DMS 85° 12' S 176° 46' W
Latitude Longitude DD -85.200 -176.767
Latitude longitude precision DD 0.008 0.008
Locality Shackleton Glacier, Queen Maud Mountains, near the south of the Swithinbank Moraine
Survey USGS 1:250 000 1968; Liv Glacier SV 1-10/5

Climate

Soil climate zone:
Central mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-30 °C
Frozen ground depth:
84 cm
Frozen type:
Dry frozen over stagnant glacial ice
Frozen comment:
84cm

Geology

Geological setting:
Swithinbank Moraine comprises an extensive area of ablation till, between Matador Mountain and the Bennett Platform and is derived from a stranded part of the McGregor Glacier; the tills are largely ice cored and comprise mainly dolerite (coarse materials) and Beacon Group sediments (fine fractions)
Patterned ground:
Weakly developed
Surface weathering or surface features:
Distinct rounding and staining of surface boulders but non pitted; some exfoliation and polish; a surface crust formed in places due to occasional soil moistening; a distinct salt horizon on higher surfaces

Soil

Soil parent material:
Bouldery sandy/silty till from dolerite and sedimentary rocks; may include some granite
Previous disturbance:
Nil
Soil weathering stage:
6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)
Soil moisture status:
Xerous; recent snow fall with extensive thin (2cm) cover of snow; minor moistening of the soil surface in places
Biological activity:
Nil observed

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
75
Particle size distribution
Sample name< 2 mm2 - 0.5 mm0.5 - 0.25 mm0.25 - 0.1 mm0.1 - 0.05 mm0.05 - 0.02 mm0.02 - 0.002 mm< 0.002 mmFe2O3CaCO3Notes
75 nd PartSize : not analysed
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
75 not analysed
National Soil Archive Samples
Sample nameNSA Sample IdContainer typeFraction type
75 M22/0673 White lid small fine

Photos

Photo record:
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