Site Information

Site number:
94
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; the site is on the crest of a broad moraine loop ridge
Altitude:
2150 m
Aspect:
NE
Slope:
3 °
Location Data
Observer IBC
GPS No
Latitude Longitude DMS 85° 33' S 177° 01' W
Latitude Longitude DD -85.550 -177.017
Latitude longitude precision DD 0.008 0.008
Locality Head of Shackleton Glacier at Roberts Massif, Queen Maud Mountains, on the edge of the Polar Plateau
Survey USGS 1:250 000 1968; Liv Glacier SV 1-10/5

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, younger surfaces have a less weathered appearance
Patterned ground:
Nil
Surface weathering or surface features:
Surface boulders are predominantly subangular and there is little pavement development; surface staining weak to moderate

Soil

Soil parent material:
Dolerite till with some Beacon Group sedimentary material and older till material
Previous disturbance:
Nil
Soil weathering stage:
6 2 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)
Soil moisture status:
Ultraxerous; no snow
Biological activity:
Nil observed
Profile Description
HorizonDepthDescription
94a 0 – 6 cm light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy pebble gravel; loose; rock particles mainly subangular and unstained but many subrounded, strongly stained and strongly altered; distinct boundary,
94b 6 – 9 cm light brown to pink (7.5YR 6/4-7/4) sandy pebble gravel; moderately cohesive; discontinuous salt accumulations through the horizon; rock particles mainly subangular and weakly stained but many particles are strongly stained and altered; distinct boundary,
94c 9 – 15 cm light grey to very pale brown (10YR 7/2-7/3) sandy pebble gravel; loose; rock particles mainly subrounded and unstained but some are subrounded and moderately stained and altered; sharp boundary, on pale grey till

Sample Data

Physical Data
Sample nameDepth descriptionTop (cm)Base (cm)Bulk DensityDry Bulk DensityGravimetric MoistureVol. Moisture (BD=2)
94a 0-6cm 0.0 6.0
94b 6-9cm 6.0 9.0
94c 9-15cm 9.0 15.0
Sample solution chemistry
Sample namepHNa meq/100gCa meq/100gMg meq/100gK meq/100gCl meq/100gSO4 meq/100gNO3 meq/100gEC mmho/cmSoluble SaltNotes
94a 6.2 4.2 2.2 1.0 0.05 <0.01 3.6 2.9 . 0.31  
94b 5.7 26.0 1.8 3.4 0.1 <0.01 36.5 . . 2.59  
94c 6.7 5.5 1.9 2.2 0.03 <0.01 13.1 23.5 . 0.91  
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
94a 55 33.1 29.6 21.7 4.3 2.5 4.7 3.6 0.46 .
94b 63 28.8 26.9 24.9 5.3 3.4 5.1 5.0 0.6 .
94c 64 23.7 17.6 17.6 4.5 5.4 12.5 18.2 0.45 .
Clay Mineralogy
Sample nameMicaIHMHIV - IHMICHLVTHIVCHLSMCHL SMFE - CHLHTQTZFLDHBCALNotes
94a 30.0 . . . . . . 15.0 . 30.0 . 15.0 10.0 .
94b 50.0 10.0 . . . 5.0 5.0 5.0 . 10.0 . 10.0 5.0 .
94c 20.0 . 5.0 . . . 15.0 25.0 . 25.0 . 10.0 . .
National Soil Archive Samples
Sample nameNSA Sample IdContainer typeFraction type
94a M22/0761 medium coarse
94a M22/0762 medium fine
94a M22/6868 Glass vial metal lid
94b M22/0763 medium coarse
94b M22/0764 medium fine
94b M22/6869 Glass vial metal lid
94c M22/0765 medium coarse
94c M22/0766 medium fine
94c M22/6870 Glass vial metal lid

Photos

Photo record:
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