93

Site number:

93

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/12/16

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

On the lower slopes near the south of the basin like surface at Roberts Massif; glacial surfaces formed following retreat of a tongue of polar ice; a strongly rolling to hilly surface with moraine loops marking retreat stages; site is 4m N of a bouldery moraine loop on a smooth gentle slope

Altitude:

2200 m

Aspect:

NE

Slope:

4 °

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:

Younger till overlies older till, and dolerite on the lower surfaces at Roberts Massif; north of the ice tongue at Grass Bluff, the till forms a series of retreat surfaces marked by bouldery moraine loops, about 2m high

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Dolerite boulders in moraine loop are mainly subangular and moderately stained; pebbles forming a surface pavement are moderately stained, subangular to sub rounded with polish on some clasts; salts beneath some surface stones

Soil

Soil parent material:

Dolerite till with some Beacon Group sedimentary material

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Ultraxerous; no snow

Biological activity:

Nil observed