Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
401000
401
29-Nov-1977
IBC, GGC
Wright Valley near the centre of the Asgard Range, to the SW of Lake Vanda in Jotunheim Valley
Soil weathering examination
USGS, Antarctica 1:50,000 Topo. Ser. 1977 Lake Vanda Antarctica
No
161.1670
-77.6433
77deg 38.6'S
-161deg -10.0'E
On a valley floor till-covered surface near the head of Jotunheim Valley; a narrow surface with occasional small rises and with strongly developed patterned ground
0
Nil
1,675
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(0o)
Snow is extensive in patterned ground cracks
-30
Inland Mountain
Dolerite and sandstone ablation moraine; probably partly preweathered from erosion of valley wall surfaces
Nil observed
Strongly developed medium nets; cracks up to 2m deep from polygon centres
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
Weak surface weathering; patchy stain on boulders; negligible ventiforms and pitting; few fine salt accumulations beneath some clasts
Nil
401a 3-0cm
101
surface boulders cobbles and granular gravel
102
rock particles angular to subangular with weak surface staining but some internal alteration,
401b 0-20cm
201
yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) bouldery sandy gravel
202
loose to very weakly cohesive
203
rock particles mainly angular to subangular and unstained
204
some particles slightly altered
205
indistinct boundary,
401c 20-40cm
301
yellowish brown to light yellowish brown (10YR 5/4 - 6/4) bouldery sandy gravel
302
loose
303
rock particles mainly angular and unstained
304
sharp boundary,
401c 40-43cm
401
yellowish brown to light yellowish brown (10YR 5/4 - 6/4) ice-cemented ground
Yes
Hard ice-cemented
40
2
(40cm)
Geoland
Tills near the head of the valley are derived from local alpine glaciation with a dolerite sandstone composition; the tills become younger up-valley and the |
surface expression is distinguished by prominent high relief patterned ground which is probably ice-cored; the surface may be of Alpine II to Alpine III age |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
40100001
19.00
40100002
61.00
40100003
66.00
40100004
44.00
40100005
21.00
40100001
40100002
40100003
40100004
40100005
40100001
40100002
40100003
40100004
40100005
12-Dec-2005
Page 358 of 896
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