Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
537000
537
11-Jan-1988
IBC, GGC
Convoy Range, Transantarctic Mountains; Towle Valley
Soil biological examination
Ross Island & Vicinity, Antarctica, 1:250 000 US Geological Survey, 1986
CS Lscp
No
160.6330
-76.6833
76deg 41.0'S
-160deg -38.0'E
Toward the southwestern end of Towle Valley; the site is adjacent to a rocky dolerite knoll on the valley floor
0
Nil
1,150
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(0o)
| Recent snow cover shows evidence of thaw, especially against rocks; the soils are moist in |
| places and appear to be periodically wet |
-26
Coastal Mountain, xerous to subxerous
Fragmented dolerite
Some yellow and orange lichen
Nil
| SURFACE WEATHERING or |
| SURFACE FEATURES |
Strong surface oxidation of dolerite boulders and outcrop surfaces; distinct and moderately deep pitting on bedrock clasts
Nil
537a 0-4cm
101
dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) sandy gravel
Yes
0
4/5
Geoland
| Towle Valley is formed almost entirely in dolerite; the tills, moraines and soils indicate a northeasterly retreat of the Towle Glacier from the valley; land surfaces |
| on the lower valley floor appear not to be very old; the tills may be rather old but may have been over-ridden by repeated incursions of the Towle Glacier into |
| the valley; a few granite clasts are present; there may have been some re-working of older tills |
| Soluble Salt |
| Concentration |
53700001
53700001
53700001
12-Dec-2005
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