88

Site number:

88

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/12/13

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

A broad, flattish, wind sculptured ridge top, about 6km ESE of Misery Pk at Roberts Massif; basement dolerite is sculptured into gargoyle- like forms and fragmental exfoliated material occurs in pockets

Altitude:

2400 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Inland mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-45 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

Ferrar Dolerite occurs extensively as sills and forms erosion resistant caps on many hills; on high ridges, chemical weathering, exfoliation and wind abrasion has lowered the surface leaving upstanding dolerite sculptures

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Sculptured dolerite in gargoyle-like forms, up to 1m high; strongly stained and exfoliating rock surfaces; mainly fine gravelly between rock outcrops

Soil

Soil parent material:

Fragmental dolerite

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 6 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Ultraxerous; some snow patches but no thawing

Biological activity:

Nil observed