Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
393000
393
25-Nov-1977
IBC, GGC
Wright Valley at the Western end in the Asgard Range, at the NE end of Koenig Valley, approximately 1.2km NW of Mt Freya
Soil weathering examination
USGS, Antarctica 1:50,000 Topo. Ser. 1977 Labyrinth Antarctica
CS Pro & B&W Lscp
No
160.8170
-77.6250
77deg 37.5'S
-160deg -49.0'E
On the west sloping side of Koenig Valley floor on an uneven surface with weakly developed patterned ground; the site is near the edge of a polygon unit
6
NW
1,520
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(6o)
Small patchy snow remnants; dry soil after previous slight surface moistening
-30
Inland Mountain
Sandy gravel till from dolerite and sandstone
Nil observed
Broad 10-15m nets with weakly raised borders and <15cm troughs, weakly developed and mostly inactive
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
A moderately developed cobble and pebble pavement with some dolerite boulders cavernously weathered and most showing distinct rounding; moderate to |
strong surface staining; fine grained dolerite weakly pitted; some sandstone clasts disaggregated |
Nil
393a 3-0cm
101
surface pebbles and granular sand
102
mainly subrounded moderately stained and partly altered,
393b 0-1cm
201
yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy granular gravel
202
weakly cohesive
203
weakly developed vesicular structure
204
rock particles subrounded to subangular, moderately stained and weakly to moderately altered
205
indistinct boundary,
393c 1-16cm
301
yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy granular gravel
302
loose
303
rock particles subrounded to subangular, moderately stained and weakly altered
304
sharp boundary,
393d 16-20cm
401
ice cemented ground
Yes
a,b,c,d
Hard ice-cemented
16
3
(16cm)
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; |
patterned ground covers part of the valley floor surface but is generally weakly expressed with some cracks appearing inactive; soil near the edge of the polygon |
appears to be less weathered than near the centre |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
39300001
25.00
39300002
56.00
39300003
54.00
39300004
30.00
39300001
39300002
39300003
39300004
39300001
39300002
39300003
39300004
12-Dec-2005
Page 350 of 896
393