92

Site number:

92

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/12/15

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

On the upper northwest slopes above the lower lying Roberts Massif basin; a high bench formed by Beacon group sediments with a thin cover of drift material; a flat smooth surface

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:

Beacon group sediments outcrop in a few places but dolerite is the predominant rock type in the area; in places, the sediments are argillised and altered by dolerite intrusion; where dolerite drift material is present, a soil cover has formed; where no dolerite drift is present, sandstone rock outcrops

Patterned ground:

Weakly developed polygons on flattish sites

Surface weathering or surface features:

Dolerite surface pebbles and boulders are strongly stained, well rounded and distinctly ventiform; some cavernous weathering (pitting) is present on upper surfaces of clasts

Soil

Soil parent material:

Thin dolerite drift over sandstone

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 5 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Ultraxerous; no snow

Biological activity:

Nil observed