Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
637000
637
1-Dec-1991
IBC, GGC, MRB
Marble Point, western McMurdo Sound
Soil moisture and permafrost investigation; resample of 1990 site 567 for moisture difference comparison
USGS Antarctica Topographic Series 1:50,000; Marble Point, Antarctica
CS Pro
Yes
163.6700
-77.4145
77deg 24.87'S
-163deg -40.20'E
Near an old stream channel, approximately 150m W of the Marble Point runway near the northern end; on the flattish crest of a small hillock forming part of a linear ridge with |
2-3m relief; at the site of soil 567 sampled in 1990 |
0
Nil
75
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
Dry at site with no soil moistening
-18
Coastal Antarctic
Bouldery sandy gravel from granodiorite and marble with inclusions of other rock types
Nil at site; moss patches and cyanobacteria are common locally
Broad nets with 20cm troughs
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
Clasts mainly unstained, angular to subangular and non ventiform; weakly developed pavement; some granular disintegration of marble clasts
Site disturbed by previous sampling on 19/1/90
637a 0-20cm
101
pale olive (5Y 6/3) sandy pebble and cobble gravel
102
loose
103
rock particles angular to subangular, some weakly stained
104
some carbonate coatings
105
distinct boundary,
637b 20-30cm
201
light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) sandy gravel
202
weakly cohesive
203
rock particles angular to subangular
204
some carbonate and silt coatings
205
distinct boundary,
637c 30-45cm
301
light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) sandy gravel
302
moderately cohesive
303
frosted
304
weakly developed vesicular structure
305
rock particles angular to subangular
306
some silt coatings
307
sharp boundary,
637d 45-50cm
401
light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) sandy gravel
402
very firm
403
hard frozen
Yes
Firmly frozen over hard ice-cemented
50
1
(50cm)
Geoland
The surface is an undulating till plain formed by retreat of the Wilson Piedmont Glacier; the Marble Point region is an old landscape, with deposits of phillipsite, |
buried soils and oxidised gneiss, which have been covered by advances of the grounded Ross Ice Shelf; later ice retreat and glaciological features have been |
controlled by changes in the stranded Wilson Piedmont Glacier |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
63700001
49.00
0.93
63700002
31.00
2.06
63700003
15.34
63700004
9.66
63700001
63700002
63700003
63700004
63700001
63700002
63700003
63700004
12-Dec-2005
Page 595 of 896
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