Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
813000
813
27-Jan-1994
IBC, GGGC
Scott base, Ross Island
Soil moisture and bulk density examination; examination of the effects of treading on a Scott base track
Ross Island & Vicinity, 1;250 000 US Geological Survey
Yes
Yes
166.7500
-77.8417
77deg 50.50'S
-166deg -45.00'E
Approximately 150m northwest of Scott Base beside and on a long established walking track route from Scott Base to McMurdo; samples a & b from alongside the walking |
track and samples c & d on the track surface; a moist part of the track surface |
0
Nil
40
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(0o)
The site is slightly moist
-18
Coastal Antarctic
Predominantly fragmented basaltic scoria, probably with minor inclusions of glaciogenic detritus; the walking track surface has been partly compacted
Nil at site
Nil at site
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
Surface rocks are unstained but some have a weak but distinct polish; some clasts have calcium carbonate coatings on undersides
A high level of foot traffic disturbance on the track surface since the late 1950's; minor disturbance alongside the track
813a 0-5cm
101
greyish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy gravel
102
weakly cohesive
103
moist
104
rock particles subangular to subrounded and unstained
105
indistinct boundary,
813b 5-10cm
201
greyish brown to dark greyish brown (10YR 5/2 - 4/2) sandy gravel
202
weakly cohesive
203
moist
204
rock particles subangular to subrounded and unstained,
813c 0-5cm
301
light brownish grey to greyish brown (10YR 6/2 - 5/2) sandy gravel
302
cohesive
303
slightly moist
304
rock particles subangular and unstained
305
indistinct boundary,
813d 5-10cm
401
greyish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy gravel
402
moderately cohesive
403
moist
404
rock particles subangular and unstained
No
Hard ice-cemented
35
1
(35cm)
Geoland
The deposit comprises old scoria flows of the McMurdo Volcanics with the surface rock being fragmented mainly into cobble and boulder sized clasts; |
commonly found are small rounded pebbles of granitic and sedimentary rocks and these are probably derived from the mainland, having been transported by the |
former expanded Ross Sea Glacier, and deposited as it retreated from Ross Island |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
81300001
30.80
7.55
81300002
29.30
10.42
81300003
25.50
7.84
81300004
26.90
6.07
81300001
81300002
81300003
81300004
81300001
81300002
81300003
81300004
12-Dec-2005
Page 790 of 896
813