111

Site number:

111

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/12/30

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

Blank Peaks between the Bartrum and Foggydog Glaciers; on the upper slopes of a small cirque like basin with a sloping bouldery moraine surface;

Altitude:

1175 m

Aspect:

SE

Slope:

4 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-26 °C

Frozen ground depth:

30 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

30cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Granite Harbour Intrusives outcrop prominently on ridges with some smaller dolerite caps; surficial till deposits on higher slopes may be a little older than on lower slopes;

Patterned ground:

Moderately developed nets with domed centres

Surface weathering or surface features:

Surface boulders are moderately stained on upper surfaces; cavernous weathering is weakly developed; occasional small deposits of gypsum on some boulders

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery and sandy granitic till

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous to subxerous; the surface is predominantly snow free but some snow occurs on nearby hill slopes; the soil is moist below 10cm

Biological activity:

Yellow and black lichen are present on boulders