Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
443000
443
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
156.3020
-79.9667
79deg 58.0'S
-156deg -18.1'E
The Darwin Mountains, just to the south of the Midnight Plateau; the site is on the side of an old moraine ridge with the ground surface falling away into a hollow beyond
10
S
1,675
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
Thin patchy snow; no thawing or soil moistening observed
-30
Central Mountain
Till from predominantly dolerite with some sandstone
Nil observed
Weakly developed; inactive residual mounds
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
cf. Notes for SURFWEA below
Nil
443a 2-0cm
101
surface cobbles, pebbles and granular sand
102
larger particles rounded and strongly stained
103
smaller particles angular, strongly stained and moderately to strongly altered,
443b 0-5cm
201
brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy to granular sandy gravel
202
weakly cohesive
203
weakly developed vesicular structure
204
rock particles mainly angular, moderately stained and moderately altered
205
sharp boundary,
443c 5-15cm
301
yellowish red (5YR 4/8 - 5/8) sandy gravel
302
moderately to strongly cohesive
303
many diffuse salts with concentrations in patches
304
rock particles subangular, weakly stained and many crumbly
305
some ghosts
306
distinct boundary,
443d 15-30cm
401
strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) bouldery sandy gravel
402
weakly cohesive
403
rock particles mainly angular, some partly crumbly and non to weakly stained
404
indistinct boundary,
443e 30-50cm
501
strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) bouldery sandy gravel
502
weakly cohesive
503
rock particles angular and non to weakly stained with a few fractured
504
indistinct boundary,
443f 50-80cm
601
yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) sandy to silty bouldery gravel
602
loose
603
pulverulent
604
rock particles angular and unstained
605
indistinct boundary,
443g 80-85cm
701
yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) sandy gravel
702
loose
703
pulverulent
Yes
Dry frozen
85
5
(>85cm)
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
A deflated surface with a well developed pebble and cobble pavement; occasional boulders up to 25cm above the surface; sandstone clasts reduced and case |
hardened; dolerite clasts well stained and common pitting; moderate ventiform development; strong surface polish; undersides show little weathering; salts |
common beneath many clasts |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
44300001
82.00
44300002
84.00
34.00
21.80
18.50
7.60
4.70
7.40
4.10
0.60
44300003
85.00
33.40
23.10
17.20
8.10
6.50
4.60
6.50
0.44
44300004
91.00
33.20
21.80
16.10
8.80
8.90
9.20
1.40
0.50
44300005
72.00
37.30
24.00
16.90
6.70
6.70
6.70
1.10
0.55
44300006
69.00
39.50
25.30
19.70
9.70
10.30
10.80
1.30
0.40
44300007
62.00
36.00
23.10
15.80
8.00
7.40
7.40
1.40
0.58
44300008
44300001
44300002
7.20
3.60
8.70
8.12
7.20
1.41
10.80
0.70
44300003
7.50
5.30
11.10
15.20
14.30
1.47
24.00
4.40
44300004
8.10
2.10
5.60
1.52
4.80
1.15
3.70
5.90
44300005
9.40
2.50
4.60
0.05
1.50
4.79
0.73
4.00
44300006
7.80
1.40
4.10
11.60
2.20
0.95
2.70
3.60
44300007
7.60
1.30
4.30
0.85
0.20
1.02
5.10
3.60
44300008
sodanitre, gypsum, hexahydrite
44300001
44300002
55
5
15
20
44300003
50
15
20
15
44300004
55
10
20
15
44300005
50
10
15
25
44300006
60
40
44300007
60
40
44300008
12-Dec-2005
Page 400 of 896
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