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
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