Date of Award
8-2008
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Geological and Environmental Sciences
Department
Geosciences
First Advisor
Dr. Alan E. Kehew
Second Advisor
Dr. Mohamed Sultan
Third Advisor
Dr. Andrew Kozlowski
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Surficial mapping, borehole analysis, and ground penetrating radar surveys are used to reconstruct conditions leading to the formation of tunnel valley and esker networks within the Dowling 7 .5 minute quadrangle. The relationship between tunnel valleys and eskers has important implications on the subglacial hydrology beneath the Saginaw Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet.
Surficial mapping reveals northeast-southwest trending tunnel valleys, some containing eskers of the same orientation, in hummocky topography mapped as the Saginaw Kalamazoo Moraine. A borehole hole drilled through one such tunnel valley and esker pair reveals sand and gravel fining upwards to fine sand. Stratigraphy suggests that the subglacial tunnel persisted for a long period of time with flow waning. A sandy diamicton capping the esker and other hummocky topography throughout the study area is interpreted as meltout till. The ground penetrating radar surveys show features such as normal faults, slumping beds, and buried hummocks, which are consist with downwasting of stagnant debris rich ice. This corresponds to models which postulate the Saginaw Lobe was in state of stagnation and retreat as ice movement to the north began shifting to the Huron-Erie and Lake Michigan Lobes.
Recommended Citation
Woolever, Caleb J., "Origin of Tunnel Valley and Esker Assemblages in the Saginaw Lobe, Barry County, Michigan" (2008). Masters Theses. 4024.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4024