Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
91000
91
14-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
177.6670
-85.5167
85deg 31.0'S
-177deg -40.0'E
An undulating surface on the lower altitude basin-like surfaces of Roberts Massif, approximately 13.5km E of Misery Pk.; a stony higher level till surface
4
SE
2,200
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(4o)
Ultraxerous; no snow
-45
Inland mountain
Loose bouldery till derived mainly from dolerite, overlying grey older till
Nil observed
Nil
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
Cobbles and boulders are partly rounded and are more distinctly stained than on younger surfaces; dark aphanite rocks are well polished
Nil
91 5-0cm
101
surface boulders, cobbles and gravelly sand
102
dolerite subrounded and strongly stained with aphanite strongly polished,
91a 0-3cm
201
light brown to brown (7.5YR 6/4-5/4) cobbly sandy gravel
202
loose
203
rock particles subrounded, moderately stained (some distinctive red) and moderately altered
204
sharp boundary,
91b 3-8cm
301
light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy cobble gravel
302
firmly cohesive
303
abundant white salts forming a distinct horizon
304
rock particles subangular, moderately stained and moderately altered with some surface oxide coatings
305
distinct boundary,
91c 8-18cm
401
brown to reddish brown (7.5YR 6/4-5YR 4/3) sandy cobble and pebble gravel
402
cohesive
403
salts diffused through the horizon
404
rock particles subangular to subrounded, strongly stained and moderately altered
405
distinct boundary,
91d 18-39cm
501
light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) bouldery sandy gravel
502
loose
503
rock particles subangular and weakly stained but some strongly altered, on grey bouldery till
Yes
a,b,c,d
Dry frozen
0
4
Geoland
Lower altitude surfaces at Roberts Massif have deposits of old till of the Sirius Formation while Ferrar Dolerite forms low hills or roche moutonnees; overlying |
these is an intermittent cover of young, mainly doleritic till; the till sheet shows the retreat of ice by distinct moraine ridges, the site is one of the older retreat |
surfaces |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
9100001
91a
0-3cm
0
3
none
9100002
91b
3-8cm
3
8
none
9100003
91c
8-18cm
8
18
none
9100004
91d
18-39cm
18
39
none
12-Dec-2005
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