Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
383000
383
21-Nov-1977
IBC, GGC
Wright Valley at the Western end in the Asgard Range, at the SW end of Koenig Valley, approximately 0.9km SSE of Mt Thor
Soil weathering examination
USGS, Antarctica 1:50,000 Topo. Ser. 1977 Labyrinth Antarctica
CS Lscp
No
160.7500
-77.6083
77deg 36.5'S
-160deg -45.0'E
On the second youngest moraine associated with a valley head cirque ice tongue in Koenig Valley; an uneven bouldery and gently sloping surface with the site located on the |
down-valley side of a moraine loop |
5
W
1,650
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(5o)
Recent 3 cm snowfall with some thawing and water films on rock surfaces
-30
Inland Mountain
Dolerite in coarse clasts (up to .75m) that have been pre weathered
Nil observed
Nil
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
Surface clasts mainly subangular to subrounded with some surface staining; no pitting or exfoliation
Nil
383a 2-0cm
101
surface boulders, cobbles and granular gravel
102
subrounded and mostly distinctly stained
103
many smaller particles are strongly altered,
383b 0-8cm
201
dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) sandy gravel
202
loose to slightly cohesive
203
weakly developed vesicular structure
204
a few fine salt flecks
205
smaller particles mainly angular and many strongly stained and many particles moderately to strongly altered
206
sharp boundary,
383c 8-15cm
301
brown to dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy gravel
302
ice cemented
303
rock particles subangular and many distinctly stained and moderately altered
Yes
a,b,c
Stagnant ice
8
2
(8cm)
Geoland
The Asgard Range is comprised of Beacon Sandstone and Ferrar Dolerite; the landscape is ancient with the high altitude valley cirques cut in pre Miocene time; |
subsequent glaciation has been restricted mainly to valley head cirque type activity; the glacial deposits represent accumulations of local head wall materials |
which have probably been weathered in place before incorporation into local glaciers; differences in moraine topography are accompanied by differences in soils |
on the differing surfaces |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
38300001
12.00
38300002
58.00
38300003
45.00
38300001
38300002
38300003
38300001
38300002
38300003
12-Dec-2005
Page 340 of 896
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