Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
609000
609
9-Feb-1990
IBC, GGGC, MRB
Pram Point, Scott Base, Ross Island
Permafrost and soil moisture investigations
Dept of Interior US Geological Survey 1986
Yes
166.6990
-77.8592
77deg 51.55'S
-166deg -41.94'E
Southwest end of 'The Gap' on a recently levelled area of land for construction and storage activity; at the southern side near the foot of Observation Hill
0
Nil
60
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
A dry site presently not receiving runoff; water may have been added during fill and |
compaction activity |
-18
Coastal Antarctic
Scoria fill and basaltic flow material derived from around McMurdo through ground scraping of the active layer; the upper part of the soil is strongly compacted
Nil
Nil
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
This area has been subject to previous heavy disturbance, rubbish dumping but now under fuel storage tanks
609a 0-15cm
101
greyish brown (2.5Y 5/2) stony sandy gravel
102
moderately compact
103
indistinct boundary,
609b 15-25cm
201
greyish brown (2.5Y 5/2) stony sandy gravel
202
moderately to strongly compact
203
indistinct boundary,
609c 25-40cm
301
greyish brown (2.5Y 5/2) bouldery sandy gravel
302
moderately compact
303
ice crystals present
304
indistinct boundary,
609d 40-55cm
401
greyish brown (2.5Y 5/2) bouldery gravel
402
moderately compact
403
ice crystals present
404
indistinct boundary,
609e 55-65cm
501
greyish brown (2.5Y 5/2) bouldery gravel
502
weakly cohesive
503
ice crystals present
504
sharp boundary, on basaltic scoria bedrock
No
unconsolidated ice-cemented
0
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; locally much |
ground surface scraping has occurred |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
60900001
609a
0-15cm
0
15
10.40
none
60900002
609b
15-25cm
15
25
15.60
none
60900003
609c
25-40cm
25
40
18.10
none
60900004
609d
40-55cm
40
55
26.70
none
60900005
609e
55-65cm
55
65
18.40
none
60900001
60900002
60900003
60900004
60900005
60900001
60900002
60900003
60900004
60900005
60900001
60900002
60900003
60900004
60900005
12-Dec-2005
Page 567 of 896
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