Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
386000
386
21-Nov-1977
IBC, GGC
Wright Valley at the Western end in the Asgard Range, at the SW end of Koenig Valley, approximately 1.4km SE of Mt Thor
Soil weathering examination
USGS, Antarctica 1:50,000 Topo. Ser. 1977 Labyrinth Antarctica
CS & B&W Pro
No
160.7830
-77.6083
77deg 36.5'S
-160deg -47.0'E
A valley floor moraine surface on a slightly elevated but flat surface
0
Nil
1,550
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(0o)
Snow cover from a recent fall with surface moistening to around 1cm
-30
Inland Mountain
Predominantly doleritic till, fine and coarse grained dolerite with minor sandstone
Nil observed
Nil
| SURFACE WEATHERING or |
| SURFACE FEATURES |
cf. Notes for SURFWEA below
Nil
386 2-0cm
101
surface cobbles pebbles and occasional boulders (moist)
102
rounded to subrounded, many strongly stained and pitted and some disaggregating
103
smaller clasts partly altered
104
a few salt precipitations,
386b 0-2cm
201
brown to dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy cobble gravel
202
loose
203
rock particles mainly subrounded and moderately stained and many moderately altered
204
salts beneath some stones
205
indistinct boundary,
386c 2-12cm
301
strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) sandy gravel
302
weakly to moderately cohesive and weakly developed vesicular structure
303
diffuse patchy salt accumulations
304
some ghosts
305
rock particles subrounded, moderately stained and partly altered
306
diffuse boundary,
386d 12-35cm
401
yellowish brown to strong brown (10YR 5/8 - 7.5YR 5/8) sandy gravel
402
weakly cohesive
403
few diffuse patchy salt accumulations
404
larger rock particles mainly subangular and unstained but some disaggregating
405
smaller particles partly altered
406
diffuse boundary,
386e 35-50cm
501
yellowish brown to strong brown (10YR 5/8 - 7.5YR 5/8) sandy gravel
502
loose
503
a few fine salt flecks
504
rock particles mainly subangular and unstained but some smaller particles partly altered
505
sharp boundary,
386f 50cm+
601
on dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6 moist) sandy gravel frozen ground
Yes
a,b,c,d,e,f
Dry frozen over ice-cemented
50
4/5
(50cm)
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; the |
| upper valley floor deposits probably represent earlier and more extensive cirque glaciation |
Surfwea
| A well weathered surface; coarse grained dolerite fragmenting and disaggregating; fine grained dolerite clasts with distinctive pitting and marked surface |
| reddening; some surface polish; moderately to strongly developed ventiforms some with distinct pitting, |
| Soluble Salt |
| Concentration |
38600002
65.00
38600001
5.00
38600003
71.00
38600004
43.00
38600005
75.00
38600006
20.00
38600002
38600001
38600003
38600004
38600005
38600006
38600002
38600001
38600003
38600004
38600005
38600006
12-Dec-2005
Page 343 of 896
386
