For determination of sources and levels of soil contaminants around Scott Base

SS12 T2; approximately 130 m northwest of the water storage tanks alongside K 140 soil contamination trial site; an undisturbed flattish surface formed by a small step in the

landscape and down slope of a snow bank

cf. Notes for GEOLAND below

Site snow-covered early in the season and exposed by thaw; some moisture from adjacent

thawing snow patch

SOIL MOISTURE STATUS

Undisturbed; fragmented scoria bedrock materials with probable addition of local glaciogenic drift; regolith materials are probably in part formed by reworking of slope deposits

SOIL PARENT MATERIAL

Small patches of green algae/lichen in adjacent areas

Weakly developed non-continuous nets with <10 cm cracks

SURFACE WEATHERING or

SURFACE FEATURES

Calcium carbonate coatings on undersides of surface clasts; some salt efflorescences adjacent to a nearby retreating moisture front

PREVIOUS DISTURBANCE

Not mechanically disturbed but probably some minor disturbances from human activities such as cable laying etc

well developed pavement of surface pebbles and granules

rounded to subrounded clasts

pale carbonate coatings on undersides of some larger clasts,

light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) sandy pebble gravel forming a weakly developed vesicular crust

light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) sandy granule and pebble gravel

very dark greyish brown to very dark grey (10YR 3/2 - 3/1) granular pebble and cobble gravel