Soil and salt samples and geological observations from high altitude sites in the Upper Taylor Valley to determine the history of the Antarctic environment through the composition of salts in soils

To understand the processes of Antarctic soils as they affect the composition and distributions of salts and ice in and below the soils, the salts in very old soils and paleosols were investigated. High altitude soils are less disturbed by glaciations over longer periods and so four pits at high altitudes (old surface sites, representing range in age, location relative to the sea and lithology) in the Upper Taylor Valley were sampled for the purpose of determining aspects of the history of the Antarctic environment over the last 13.5 million years as revealed by the composition of salts in soils. The first pit was located on lower level moraine on Aztec Ridge immediately above the western wall of Beacon Valley. A pit was excavated to 24 cm and samples of soils over 2 cm intervals were collected. Standard pedological samples were also taken for moisture determination and descriptions. Samples of salts from beneath surface stones and boulders were sampled. Thin sections were cut along the axis of some of the pits and the mineral alteration and weathering textures were examined. Three sites in New Valley, immediately east of New Mountain, 12-14 km west of Aztec Ridge were sampled with pits excavated 1.7 m, 1.2 m and 0.7 m deep. Description and pedological samples were taken and samples for salt extraction and analysis were taken over measured intervals. Samples of surface and subsurface rocks with attached salt layers (up to 2 cm thick) were taken for examination. Surveys of surface stones along traverses and measurements of physical parameters which might influence the accumulation of salts beneath them were also completed.