Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
413000
413
10-Dec-1977
IBC, GGC
Victoria Valley in the Insel Range
Soil weathering examination
USGS, Antarctica 1:50,000 Topo. Ser. 1977 Victoria Upper Lake Antarctica
CS Lscp
No
162.2250
-77.3900
77deg 23.4'S
-162deg -13.5'E
At the eastern end of the Insel Range, approximately .4km to the west of Mt Insel; a bouldery undulating feldsenmeer surface from frost weathered dolerite;
0
Nil
1,275
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(0o)
Extensive patchy snow; surface 3cm is moist
-26
Coastal Mountain
Fragmented dolerite and windblown sand, probably from Beacon Group rocks
Nil observed
Nil
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
Dolerite surfaces are strongly stained; rock edges are rounded; some cavernous weathering in coarse grained outcrops or boulders; some weak intermittent |
pitting; boulders are commonly up to 1m |
Nil
413a 1-0cm
101
surface pebbles and granular sand
102
rock particles subangular to subrounded, moderately to strongly stained and some moderately altered,
413b 0-3cm
201
dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) gravelly sand
202
moist
203
smaller particles rounded and larger particles subrounded to subangular, moderately stained and disaggregating
204
indistinct boundary,
413c 3-10cm
301
dark yellowish brown ((10YR 4/6) sandy gravel
302
moderately cohesive
303
strongly developed vesicular structure
304
smaller particles rounded and larger particles subangular to subrounded and moderately stained
305
indistinct boundary,
413d 10-20cm
401
dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sandy gravel
402
loose
403
rock particles mainly subrounded to subangular and weakly stained with smaller particles rounded
404
sharp boundary, on dolerite bedrock
Yes
0
3
Geoland
Ferrar Dolerite forms the surface of the Insel Range; to the west, patches of till occur but the eastern is essentially till free; the surface materials, fragmented |
dolerite have formed by freeze/thaw in the dolerite joint planes resulting in a very bouldery surface interspersed with patchy bedrock and some accumulation of |
finer fragmental material; no evidence of granite erratics was observed |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
41300001
29.00
41300002
95.00
41300003
88.00
41300004
85.00
41300005
41300001
41300002
41300003
41300004
41300005
41300001
41300002
41300003
41300004
41300005
12-Dec-2005
Page 370 of 896
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