Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
438000
438
19-Nov-1978
IBC, GGC
Hatherton Glacier, Darwin Mountains, Transantarctic Mountains
Soil weathering examination
United States Geological Survey 1966; 1:250,000 Carlyon Glacier, Antarctica
CS Pro & Lscp
No
156.2670
-79.9533
79deg 57.2'S
-156deg -16.0'E
The Darwin Mountains, just to the south of the Midnight Plateau; on a sloping surface adjacent to the edge of the Midnight Plateau ice and snow front;
10
SW
1,650
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
Extensive snow patches but little ablation against rock surfaces and no thaw or soil |
moistening |
-35
Central Mountain
Gravelly till from dolerite with a small amount of sandstone present
Nil observed
Weakly developed broad nets
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
cf. Notes for SURFWEA below
Nil
438a 1-0cm
101
surface small pebbles and granular sand between medium boulders
102
rock particles angular to subangular, moderately stained and moderately altered,
438b 0-3cm
201
brown (7.5YR 5/4) granular gravel
202
weakly cohesive
203
weakly developed vesicular structure
204
a few fine salt flecks
205
rock particles subangular, moderately stained and moderately altered
206
indistinct boundary,
438c 3-11cm
301
yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sandy gravel
302
loose
303
rock particles subangular to subrounded, weakly to moderately stained and moderately altered
304
sharp boundary,
438d 11-15cm
401
dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4 moist) ice cemented ground
Yes
Hard ice-cemented
11
4
(11cm)
Geoland
Rock outcrops on the area are Ferrar Dolerite; the ground surfaces have been exposed following retreat of ice from the Midnight Plateau; close to the ice edge, |
the soils are less weathered but distinct successional surfaces marking ice retreat are not present; although close to the ice edge, there is distinct surface and soil |
weathering; the weathering is probably relict and not directly related to the present ice cover |
Surfwea
Surface boulders are subangular but with well rounded edges; the pavement weakly to moderately developed with upstanding boulders to 60cm; clasts are |
moderately to strongly stained with strong polish on fine grained clasts; exfoliation of weathering skins is active; coarse grained clasts show distinct granular |
disintegration |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
43800002
66.00
43800003
71.00
43800004
71.00
43800001
49.00
43800002
43800003
43800004
43800001
43800002
43800003
43800004
43800001
12-Dec-2005
Page 395 of 896
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