Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
533000
533
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 & Lscp
No
161.0500
-76.9083
76deg 54.5'S
-161deg -3.0'E
Alatna Valley, approximately 2.5km E of Battleship Promontory; an gently undulating moraine surface in a slight depression; a sand accumulation patch behind a boulder
2
N
950
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(2o)
Periodic summer snow falls; the site is dry
-25
Coastal Mountain, xerous to subxerous
Wind-blown sand
Nil observed
Weakly developed broad nets
| SURFACE WEATHERING or |
| SURFACE FEATURES |
cf. Notes for SURFWEA below
Nil
533a 0-5cm
101
dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) granular coarse sand
102
loose
103
weakly stratified
104
rock particles subangular to subrounded, strongly stained and weakly altered
Yes
a
0
2
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 |
Surfwea
| Strong landsurface stability indicated by wind-fluted and polished and oxidised boulder upper surfaces; abrasion on surfaces exposed to up-valley wind; a well |
| developed pebble pavement between larger boulders; some salts precipitated on the edges of some boulders |
| Soluble Salt |
| Concentration |
53300001
95.00
47.50
36.60
13.80
0.80
0.10
0.20
0.80
0.30
53300001
7.00
0.06
53300001
12-Dec-2005
Page 491 of 896
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