Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
608000
608
9-Feb-1990
IBC, GGGC, MRB
Pram Point, Scott Base, Ross Island
Permafrost and soil moisture investigations
Dept of Interior US Geological Survey 1986
CS Pro & Lscp
Yes
166.7010
-77.8514
77deg 51.08'S
-166deg -42.06'E
cf. Notes for DESCR below
3
SE
20
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
A dry site presently not receiving runoff flows; a thin patchy snow cover was present
-18
Coastal Antarctic
Scoria fill material derived from around McMurdo through ground scraping of the active layer; the upper part of the soil is strongly compacted
Nil observed
Nil
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
The site was formed from road construction activity
608a 0-3cm
101
light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) sandy pebble gravel
102
loose
103
distinct boundary,
608b 3-20cm
201
light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) sandy gravel
202
very firm
203
indistinct boundary,
608c 20-30cm
301
light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) sandy gravel
302
very firm
303
slightly moist
304
distinct boundary,
608d 30-50cm
401
light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) sandy gravel
402
firmly cohesive
403
slightly moist
404
distinct boundary
608e 50-58cm
501
greyish brown (2.5Y 5/2) sandy gravel
502
extremely firm
503
whitish small ice segregations
No
Very firm ice-cemented
50
1
(50cm)
Descr
Part of an old disused road surface south of 'The Gap' about 250m from the coast; the road was formed in the middle 1960's but was abandoned later as different |
routes to the sea ice were established; the road was formed from constructed materials; the ground surface is now uneven |
Geoland
Rocks are predominantly scoria flows of the McMurdo Volcanics; Last Glaciation Ross 1 ice covered the site and traces of rocks (sandstone and granite granules |
and small pebbles) probably from the Royal Society Range can be found; the drift mantle is thin and patchy with bedrock a little below the surface |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
60800001
608a
0-3cm
0
3
1.50
none
60800002
608b
12-20cm
12
20
4.20
none
60800003
608c
20-30cm
20
30
3.90
none
60800004
608d
30-50cm
30
50
5.50
none
60800005
608e
50-58cm
50
58
14.00
none
60800002
60800003
60800001
60800004
60800005
60800002
60800003
60800001
60800004
60800005
60800002
60800003
60800001
60800004
60800005
12-Dec-2005
Page 566 of 896
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