84

Site number:

84

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/12/12

Reason Sampled:

Weathering examination

Description:

A young surface at the north of Roberts Massif near Everett Nunatak

Altitude:

1950 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-45 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 NoObs

Frozen type:

NoObs

Frozen comment:

NoObs

Geology

Geological setting:

Dolerite and Beacon Group sediments outcrop on overridden surfaces while deposits of old lithified till containing Ferrar Dolerite also occur; the older lithified till may be Sirius Formation, considered to be related to the onset of glaciation in Antarctica in Oligocene or Miocene times;

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Pockets of disaggregated older till are present where the surface is protected from erosion by wind

Soil

Soil parent material:

Pale greyish white disaggregated older lithified till

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6

Soil moisture status:

Ultraxerous, some patches of drift snow mainly behind larger boulders but no thawing

Biological activity:

Nil observed