Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
89000
89
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
B&W Pro & Lscp
No
177.6830
-85.5500
85deg 33.0'S
-177deg -41.0'E
A broad, gently sloping, smooth and slightly concave surface a little below the main ridge, about 6km ESE of Misery Pk at Roberts Massif
5
SW
2,450
Ferrar Dolerite occurs extensively as sills and forms erosion resistant caps on many hills and ridges; below the main ridge thin accumulations of dolerite drift are present
(5o)
Ultraxerous; some snow patches but no thawing
-45
Inland mountain
Dolerite drift
Nil observed
Nil
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
Moderately developed interlocked pebble pavement with no upstanding clasts; moderately developed surface polish and moderate rounding, minor ridging |
may be wind ripples |
Nil
89 5-0cm
101
surface granules, pebbles and sand
102
subangular to subrounded and strongly stained
103
salts beneath surface stones,
89a 0-5cm
201
reddish brown (5YR 5/3) gravelly pebbly sand
202
loose
203
flecks of salt throughout the horizon
204
rock particles mainly subangular, strongly stained, fragmental and strongly altered
205
distinct boundary,
89b 5-8cm
301
yellowish red (5YR 5/8) sandy gravel
302
weakly cohesive
303
many white salt flecks
304
distinct boundary,
89c 8-18cm
401
yellowish red (5YR 5/8) sandy pebbly gravel
402
moderately cohesive
403
abundant white crystalline salts concentrated in patches
404
rock particles subangular, fretted, strongly stained and strongly altered
405
distinct boundary,
89d 18-36cm
501
strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) pebbly sandy gravel
502
loose
503
rock particles mainly subangular and moderately stained
504
smaller particles moderately altered but larger particles unstained and unaltered
505
sharp boundary, on dolerite rock
Yes
a,b,c,d
Dry frozen
0
6
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
8900001
89a
0-5cm
0
5
none
8900002
89b
5-8cm
5
8
none
8900003
89c
8-18cm
8
18
none
8900004
89d
18-36cm
18
36
none
12-Dec-2005
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