Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
333000
333
27-Nov-1972
IBC, GGC
Taylor Dry Valley, McMurdo Dry Valley region, Rhone Glacier
Soil weathering examination
USGS 1:50,000 Antarctic Topo. Ser. Lake Bonney Quadrangle
B&W+CS Lsc & B&W Pro
No
162.1420
-77.6883
77deg 41.3'S
-162deg -8.5'E
| 3.5km N of Taylor Glacier and 0.5km from the Rhone Glacier; on a granite knoll which has strongly developed bedrock cavernous weathering; the site is on a smooth sloping |
| gravelly surface between cavernously weathered granite outcrops |
4
S
1,425
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(4o)
Some small scattered snow patches but soil is dry
-25
Inland Mountain
Weathered granite bedrock with minor volcanic (scoria) possibly lapilli
Nil observed
Nil
| SURFACE WEATHERING or |
| SURFACE FEATURES |
| Strong cavernous weathering of bedrock with tafone; up to 80cm of bedrock removal; upper surfaces of granite are oxidised and case hardened; undersides |
| crumbly and exfoliating through salt weathering; a well developed granular/pebble gravel pavement |
Nil
333 1-0cm
101
surface small pebbles and granular sand
102
angular to subangular
103
rock particles angular and weakly stained,
333a 0-2cm
201
light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy pebble gravel
202
loose
203
rock particles angular and weakly stained
204
distinct boundary,
333b 2-10cm
301
olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) sandy pebble gravel
302
loose
303
rock particles angular and weakly stained
304
granite clasts strongly disaggregating
305
indistinct boundary,
333c 10-18cm
401
olive brown to dark yellowish brown (2.5Y 4/4 - 10YR 4/4) sandy gravel
402
granite bedrock strongly disaggregating
403
rock particles angular and weakly stained
404
sharp boundary, on disaggregating granite bedrock
Yes
a,b,c
Bedrock
0
4/5
Geoland
| The Rhone Glacier has a series of till deposits that increase in age in a SW direction away from the present glacier position; not far from the glacier edge, the till |
| passes into till-free granite bedrock with well developed cavernous weathering; the weathering sequence suggests that there may have been little fluctuation of |
| the Rhone Glacier from its present position; this granite knoll is a surface of considerable age; scattered scoria fragments on the surface may be lapilli from a |
| nearby volcanic cone the weathering surface should pre-date the volcanic material |
| Soluble Salt |
| Concentration |
33300002
18.00
56.70
14.40
13.40
3.40
3.10
4.00
4.60
0.25
33300003
43.00
42.50
17.40
19.80
3.80
4.60
5.60
5.70
0.41
33300001
37.00
27.80
17.10
33.30
5.50
3.70
5.20
6.90
0.38
33300002
8.00
2.30
20.70
11.80
6.30
0.50
24.00
12.90
2.50
33300003
7.80
3.50
42.00
6.00
9.30
2.20
44.40
6.50
4.80
halite
33300001
7.40
1.90
17.50
7.40
6.90
0.60
21.20
7.70
0.20
33300002
50
25
25
33300003
30
10
45
15
33300001
45
35
20
12-Dec-2005
Page 290 of 896
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