South Masson Range

The South Masson Range () is the southernmost of the three parts into which the Masson Range of the Framnes Mountains, Antarctica is divided.
It rises to and extends in a northeast-southwest arc.

Physical

The South Masson Range has quite a different topology from the North Masson Range and Central Masson Range.
When the Trilling Peaks are included, it includes about fifteen separate nunataks and the northern group containing Mount Burnett, Trost Peak, and the connecting ridge.

Botany

Just south of Trost Peak, there is a long, flat ridge where many lichens are present, notably patches of '' Omphalodiscus decussatus'' more than across.
The moss '' Coscinodon lawianus'' is also abundant on the ridge, the furthest point from the sea recorded for this species.
To the south of the snow slope on Trost Peak, there are two peaks, a northern one of badly weathered banded gneiss, and a southern one similar to Mawson Granite.
The northern peak has no lichen, but the southern one has many species, including abundant '' Rhizocarpon flavum'' and '' Caloplaca elegans var. pulvinata''.
The ridge connecting to Mount Burnett, about in altitude, and the moraine scree slopes on the north of the ridge have many lichens among the rocks.
'' Biatorella antarctica'' is abundant on Mount Burnett, but there are low numbers of '' Caloplaca elegans var. pulvinata''.
Located to the south is the Branson Nunatak, which rises to an elevation of approximately 1,170 meters (3,840 feet).
There is a wide variety of flora on Branson Nunatak, but it is sparser than on the northern peaks.

Exploration

The Masson Range was discovered and named by BANZARE, 1929-31, under Mawson.
This southern range was mapped by Norwegian cartographers from air photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition, 1936-37, and named Sörkammen (the south comb or crest).
The approved name, suggested by ANCA in 1960, more clearly identifies the feature as a part of the Masson Range. Not: Gora Serkammen, Sörkammen, Sørkammen Crest, South Crest.

Features

Features include:

Trost Peak

.
Peak, , standing northeast of Mount Burnett in the Masson Range of the Framnes Mountains.
Mapped by Norwegian cartographers from aerial photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition, 1936-37.
Remapped by ANARE, 1957-60, and named for P.A. Trost, physicist at Mawson Station, 1958.

Mount Burnett

.
Peak, 1,050 m, standing 1.5 mi SW of Trost Peak in the Masson Range of the Framnes Mountains. }Mapped by Norwegian cartographers from aerial photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition, 1936-37.
Remapped by ANARE, 1957-60, and named for Eric Burnett, radiophysicist at Mawson Station, 1958.

Branson Nunatak

.
Nunatak between Mount Burnett and Price Nunatak in the Framnes Mountains, Mac. Robertson Land. Mapped by Norwegian cartographers from air photos taken by the Lars Christensen
Expedition, 1936-37, and named Horntind (horn peak). Renamed by ANCA for J. Branson, geophysicist at Mawson Station in 1962. Not: Horntind.

Lawson Nunatak

.
A small tooth-like nunatak lying southeast of Branson Nunatak in the Masson Range of the Framnes Mountains.
The feature was fixed by intersection from trigonometrical stations by ANARE in 1968.
Named by ANCA for E.J. Lawson, a diesel mechanic at Mawson Station, who assisted with the survey work in 1967.

Notes

References

Sources

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Mountain ranges of Mac. Robertson Land