Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
420000
420
12-Nov-1978
IBC, GGC
Darwin/Hatherton Glacier, Darwin Mountains Transantarctic Mountains
Soil weathering examination
United States Geological Survey 1966; 1:250,000 Carlyon Glacier Antarctica
CS Pro & Lscp
No
156.8000
-79.9217
79deg 55.3'S
-156deg -48.0'E
Approximately 4.3km NE of Mount Ash on a sloping valley floor moraine; the second distinct moraine surface
0
Nil
1,100
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
Small snow pockets in the lee of boulders; no thaw or soil moistening
-25
Central Mountain
Gravelly moraine from sandstone, dolerite and granite; probably includes some pre weathered material
Nil observed
Weakly developed 10-15m nets with shallow troughs
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
A well developed cobble pavement with larger clasts abraded on-up wind sides; moderate surface staining but may be partly relict
Nil
420a 2-0cm
101
surface pebbles, cobbles and granular sand
102
larger particles mainly subangular with moderate surface staining
103
smaller particles strongly stained and partly altered,
420b 0-1cm
201
light yellowish brown to light brown (10YR 6/6 - 7.5YR 6/4) sandy gravel
202
weakly cohesive
203
weakly developed vesicular structure
204
rock particles subangular weakly to moderately stained and some partly altered
205
some particles coated with siltyish aggregate, distinct boundary,
420c 1-10cm
301
light yellowish brown to light brown (10YR 6/6 - 7.5YR 6/4) sandy gravel
302
loose
303
rock particles mainly subangular, weakly stained and partly altered
304
some particles coated with siltyish strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) aggregate
305
sharp boundary,
420d 10-15cm
401
brown to dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) hard ice-cemented ground
Yes
Hard ice-cemented
10
2/3
(10cm)
Geoland
Local rocks are Ferrar Dolerite and Beacon Sandstone; the till includes some granite which is widespread lower down the Darwin Glacier, the moraine |
topography including the shape of terminal loops strongly suggests an ice advance into the valley; a much younger event than Asgard till of the Wright Valley |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
42000001
30.50
42000002
64.00
42000003
78.00
42000004
78.00
42000005
42000001
42000002
42000003
42000004
42000005
gypsum
42000001
42000002
42000003
42000004
42000005
12-Dec-2005
Page 377 of 896
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