Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
88000
88
13-Dec-1964
IBC, GGC
Head of Shackleton Glacier at Roberts Massif, Queen Maud Mountains, on the edge of the Polar Plateau
Soil characterisation
USGS 1:250 000 1968; Liv Glacier SV 1-10/5
CS Lscp
No
177.6670
-85.5500
85deg 33.0'S
-177deg -40.0'E
A broad, flattish, wind sculptured ridge top, about 6km ESE of Misery Pk at Roberts Massif; basement dolerite is sculptured into gargoyle- like forms and fragmental exfoliated |
material occurs in pockets |
0
Nil
2,400
Ferrar Dolerite occurs extensively as sills and forms erosion resistant caps on many hills; on high ridges, chemical weathering, exfoliation and wind abrasion has lowered the |
surface leaving upstanding dolerite sculptures |
(0o)
Ultraxerous; some snow patches but no thawing
-45
Inland mountain
Fragmental dolerite
Nil observed
Nil
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
Sculptured dolerite in gargoyle-like forms, up to 1m high; strongly stained and exfoliating rock surfaces; mainly fine gravelly between rock outcrops
Nil
88 2-0cm
101
surface granules and pebbles
102
strongly stained
103
abundant salts beneath stones,
88a 0-5cm
201
reddish brown (5YR 5/3) pebbly gravelly sand
202
loose
203
salt flecks through the horizon
204
distinct boundary,
88b 5-8cm
301
reddish brown (5YR 5/3) gravelly sand
302
weakly cohesive
303
white salt flecks through the horizon
304
distinct boundary,
88c 8-18cm
401
yellowish red (5YR 5/8) gravelly stony sand
402
abundant soft white salt accumulations
403
distinct boundary,
88d 18-36cm
501
strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) cobbly sandy gravel
502
loose
503
rock particles mainly subangular and unstained
Yes
a
Dry frozen
0
6
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
8800001
88a
0-5cm
0
5
none
12-Dec-2005
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