Chemistry and Clay Mineralogy of a Soil Sample from Antarctica

Abstract

A SAMPLE of soil, scraped up by Mr. A. S. Helm from Scott Base, McMurdo Sound, has been analysed by this laboratory. The material contained many well-rounded blue-grey stones of basaltic and arenaceous origin, the majority being basaltic. It was apparently derived from the basaltic rocks which outcrop in the area and mixed with material from sedimentary sources in the vicinity. No humus was apparent to the eye but the sample contained a small piece of moss as well as some bacteria (J. D. Stout, personal communication) and is thus justifiably regarded as a soil. Of the material collected, 98.6 per cent was less than 25 mm. in diameter and 64 per cent less than 2 mm. Only 2.6 per cent was less than 0.066 mm. and less than 1 per cent of clay was present.