Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
532000
532
7-Jan-1988
IBC, GGC
Convoy Range, Transantarctic Mountains; Alatna Valley
Soil weathering examination
Ross Island & Vicinity, Antarctica, 1:250 000 US Geological Survey, 1986
CS Pro
No
161.1330
-76.8833
76deg 53.0'S
-161deg -8.0'E
Alatna Valley, approximately 5km E of Battleship Promontory; an undulating moraine surface near a knoll; a sand accumulation patch behind a boulder
0
Nil
925
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(0o)
| Periodic summer snow falls; some snow in patterned ground cracks but little visible soil |
| moistening |
-25
Coastal Mountain, xerous to subxerous
Wind-blown sand
Nil observed
Extensive and well developed broad nets with active movement
| SURFACE WEATHERING or |
| SURFACE FEATURES |
Dolerite boulders are oxidised and partly disaggregating; finer grained dolerite is strongly stained;
Nil
532a 0-5cm
101
yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) granular sand
102
loose
103
distinct boundary,
532b 5-23cm
201
yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) loose
202
weakly cohesive
203
sharp boundary, on hard ice-cemented ground
Yes
a
Hard ice-cemented
23
1/3
(23cm)
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; the soils are very sandy below the bouldery surface; the sand may in part originate from local erosion and become |
| incorporated into the soil through cryic process; multi-layering in the sand indicates variation in environmental conditions |
| Soluble Salt |
| Concentration |
53200001
99.00
23.90
65.00
9.50
0.70
0.10
0.10
0.40
0.20
53200001
7.80
0.04
53200001
12-Dec-2005
Page 490 of 896
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