109

Site number:

109

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/12/28

Reason Sampled:

Weathering examination

Description:

A steep and narrow, rocky ridge ascending from near the terminus of the Bartrum Glacier to the Bowling Green Plateau; approximately half way up the ridge; a dolerite outcrop just below a granite outcrop

Altitude:

1200 m

Aspect:

S

Slope:

20 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-27 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

Dolerite sills intrude into and alternate with basement Granite Harbour Intrusives and outcrop prominently on ridges; surficial deposits are absent on the ridges but cracks in the rocks contain some weathering products

Patterned ground:

Surface weathering or surface features:

Exposed granite is moderately stained on uppermost surfaces and extruding edges are partly rounded; some cavernous weathering in bedrock

Soil

Soil parent material:

Fine fragmental material in dolerite bedrock crack; dom. quartz & feldspar, prob. blown in after abrasion & exfoliation from nearby granite outcrops

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

4 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous to subxerous; the surface is predominantly snow free; a recent light snowfall but this disappeared quickly through ablation

Biological activity:

Nil observed