143

Site number:

143

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1965/01/23

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

Approximately 4km N of Lake Vashka, on gently undulating dolerite bench or sill surface, below a small peak formed by an outcrop of dolerite; the site is near level with dolerite bedrock risers and dolerite rubble in hollows; deeper profiles are found between cracks in the bedrock

Altitude:

1550 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Central mountain

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-28 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

Ferrar Dolerite outcrops on the surface and on an adjacent knoll; the shallow regolith is probably frost shattered detritus

Patterned ground:

Surface weathering or surface features:

Some pitting of dolerite rock surfaces and some cavernous weathering on rock outcrops; surface weathering is blackish rather than reddish; salts occur beneath most surface stones and there are some calcium carbonate encrustations; a moderately developed pavement of flattish pebbles

Soil

Soil parent material:

Shallow dolerite detritus, probably including some windblown fines from nearby sandstone outcrop, over dolerite bedrock

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 3 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous to subxerous; patches of surface snow; soil surface occasionally moistened

Biological activity:

Yellow and black lichen on dolerite outcrops