Micromorphological features of the fine earth and skeletal fractions of soils of West Antarctica
forming under different conditions of pedogenesis have been studied in the areas of Russian Antarctic stations. The processes of mineral weathering and alteration of rock fragments are more pronounced in the Subantarctic soils with better developed humification and immobilization of iron compounds under conditions
of surface overmoistening. The biogenic accumulative processes in the soils of King George Island result in
the appearance of initial forms of humic plasma that have not been detected in the Antarctic soils in the areas
of the Russkaya and Leningradskaya stations. Humus films on mineral grains are present in the soils of King
George Island, and organic plasmic material is present in the ornithogenic soils under penguin guano on
Lindsey Island. High latitude Antarctic soils may contain surface concentrations of organic matter; rock
fragments are covered by iron oxides and soluble salts. The formation of a