Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
529000
529
6-Jan-1988
IBC, GGC
Convoy Range, Transantarctic Mountains; Alatna Valley
Soil weathering exmination
Ross Island & Vicinity, Antarctica, 1:250 000 US Geological Survey, 1986
CS Lscp
No
161.2500
-76.8667
76deg 52.0'S
-161deg -15.0'E
| Towards the eastern end of Alatna Valley, approximately 10km NNE of Battleship Promontory; near a granite knoll; in a patterned ground crack where wind-blown sand is |
| accumulating |
0
Nil
1,000
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(0o)
Dry at the site but snow probably lies in the patterned ground cracks
-25
Coastal Mountain, xerous to subxerous
Wind-blown coarse sand from exfoliation of local granite, dolerite and sandstone
Nil observed
Moderately developed, partly infilled cracks; 50cm deep; some cracks active with sand infilling
| SURFACE WEATHERING or |
| SURFACE FEATURES |
The surface is moderately weathered with rounded to subrounded boulders, some strongly stained with polish; thin patchy surface salt accumulations
Nil
529a 0-5cm
101
yellowish brown to dark yellowish brown (10YR 5/4 - 4/4) granular coarse sand
102
loose but with a weakly cohesive surface crust
103
rock particles mainly subangular and weakly stained
Yes
a
0
1
Geoland
| Alatna Valley has formed through ice recession from the Benson Glacier and ice from Staten Island Heights; the local rocks are extensive Beacon Sandstone |
| outcrops capped with Ferrar Dolerite; granite outliers are also present; the high sand content of the soils may be due to the incorporation of wind-blown sand |
| from erosion of local rocks |
| Soluble Salt |
| Concentration |
52900001
69.00
55.80
29.30
9.60
2.60
1.10
0.70
0.70
0.20
52900001
6.10
0.29
0.05
1.71
0.30
0.03
0.04
1.10
0.03
52900001
12-Dec-2005
Page 487 of 896
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