Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
404000
404
30-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
CS Pro & Lscp
No
161.2330
-77.6167
77deg 37.0'S
-161deg -14.0'E
Near the centre of Jotunheim Valley on an open till plain surface; approximately 3.4km NE of Wolak Peak; a subdued patterned ground covered surface
2
N
1,600
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(2o)
Patchy snow cover mainly in patterned ground cracks; no visible soil moistening
-30
Inland Mountain
Doleritic cobbly gravel with some sandstone
Nil observed
Subdued patterned ground, probably inactive
| SURFACE WEATHERING or |
| SURFACE FEATURES |
cf. Notes for SURFWEA below
Nil
404a 2-0cm
101
surface cobbles, pebbles and granular sand
102
rock particles angular to subrounded and weakly to moderately stained
103
moderately developed cobble pavement,
404b 0-13cm
201
strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) sandy cobble gravel with more distinct oxidation around some dolerite clasts
202
weakly cohesive
203
a few fine salt flecks
204
rock particles mostly subangular and weakly stained with some slightly altered
205
distinct boundary,
404c 13-20cm
301
strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) sandy cobble gravel
302
weakly cohesive
303
few to many salt flecks with salts precipitating on the exposed soil face
304
rock particles mainly subangular and unstained but some coarse grained clasts partly disaggregated
305
indistinct boundary,
404d 20-35cm
401
strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) sandy gravel
402
loose
403
a few fine salt flecks
404
rock particles angular and unstained
405
sharp boundary,
404e 35-37cm
501
yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) frozen ground
502
partly thawing
Yes
hard ice-cemented
35
4
(35cm)
Geoland
| Tills near the head of the valley are derived from local alpine glaciation with a dolerite sandstone composition; the tills on the valley floor are youngest to the |
| south and become older to the north due to slow southwards ice retreat and ablation; this till is an older Alpine Moraine deposit |
Surfwea
| A well developed cobble and pebble pavement with few upstanding boulders; clasts mainly subrounded; surface staining varies according to rock type; coarse |
| grained dolerite disaggregating, fine grained dolerite weakly pitted, oxidised and some polish; sandstone clasts reddened; salts beneath some surface stones |
| Soluble Salt |
| Concentration |
40400001
20.00
40400002
62.00
40400003
67.00
40400004
69.00
40400005
55.00
40400006
40400001
40400002
40400003
40400004
40400005
40400006
40400001
40400002
40400003
40400004
40400005
40400006
12-Dec-2005
Page 361 of 896
404