Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
442000
442
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
156.2650
-79.9617
79deg 57.7'S
-156deg -15.9'E
The Darwin Mountains, just to the south of the Midnight Plateau; the site is on the side of a ridge and about midslope; about 100m SW and downslope of site 441 on a long |
even slope |
28
S
1,540
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
Thin patchy snow; no thawing or soil moistening observed
-35
Central Mountain
Exfoliated doleritic debris over till
Nil observed
Nil
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
cf. Notes for SURFWEA below
Nil
442a 2-0cm
101
surface boulders, cobbles and granular sand
102
larger particles rounded and strongly stained
103
smaller particles angular, moderately stained and moderately altered,
442b 0-4cm
201
brown to dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy to granular stony gravel
202
loose
203
some larger rock particles partly crumbled
204
rock particles mainly angular, moderately stained and partly altered
205
sharp boundary,
442c 4-15cm
301
yellowish red (5YR 4/6) sandy bouldery gravel
302
moderately to strongly cohesive
303
abundant diffuse salts forming a distinct horizon
304
rock particles angular, non to moderately stained and some partly altered
305
distinct boundary,
442d 15-26cm
401
strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) bouldery sandy gravel
402
moderately cohesive
403
scattered salt patches especially around rock faces
404
some clasts disaggregating
405
rock particles mainly angular and non to weakly stained
406
indistinct boundary,
442e 26-50cm
501
strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) sandy bouldery gravel
502
moderately cohesive
503
rock particles angular and non to weakly stained
504
indistinct boundary,
442f 50-75cm
601
yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sandy bouldery gravel
602
loose
603
rock particles angular and unstained
Yes
Dry-frozen
75
5
(>75cm)
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 appear less weathered but distinct successional surfaces marking ice retreat are not present; with increasing distance away from the ice front, soil |
weathering increases |
Surfwea
The surface is bouldery with clasts greater than 1m; there is strong rounding, cavernous weathering and exfoliation resulting in a subdued surface; the slope is |
slightly stepped in places suggesting some slow downslope movement of surface materials; the surface rocks are strongly stained; some fine grained rocks are |
strongly polished; the pavement between larger clasts is moderately developed; some coarse pitting |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
44200001
40.00
44200002
56.00
50.70
23.60
16.50
4.50
0.90
1.50
1.60
0.44
44200003
62.00
52.50
20.50
14.00
4.90
2.80
3.00
1.70
0.45
44200004
69.00
52.40
20.50
12.80
5.30
3.70
3.20
1.50
0.45
44200005
64.00
51.60
24.40
13.00
3.70
1.60
2.60
2.30
0.45
44200006
60.00
45.90
25.00
15.30
5.00
3.30
3.40
1.40
0.48
44200001
44200002
6.40
1.50
1.30
5.00
4.20
0.40
0.81
6.60
2.20
44200003
7.00
2.70
3.50
14.50
3.00
0.05
1.66
11.90
4.80
44200004
7.70
2.30
5.40
5.37
51.30
1.70
6.50
5.00
44200005
7.70
1.40
4.30
5.40
24.10
1.29
2.60
3.50
44200006
7.70
1.00
3.50
0.25
2.90
1.08
5.20
2.50
44200001
44200002
30
5
10
glassy
44200003
30
25
15
30
44200004
40
60
44200005
disordered mcas
44200006
50
50
disordered
12-Dec-2005
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