Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T11:40:51.990Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A comparative analyses of microstructures from Late Jurassic diamictic units, near Helmsdale, northeast Scotland and a Pleistocene diamicton from near Milton, southern Ontario, Canada – a differential diagnostic method of sediment typing using micromorphology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2014

J. Menzies  and
C. Whiteman
J. Menzies*
Affiliation:
Depts. of Earth Sciences & Geography, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2S 3A1
C. Whiteman
Affiliation:
School of the Environment University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, England, U.K.
*
*Email: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Micromorphology is used to examine and compare a Late Jurassic diamictite from northeast Scotland with a Pleistocene diamict from southern Ontario, Canada in order to test if a statistical difference between diamicts can be recognized and used to separate differing types of diamicts/diamictites. The diamictites from Scotland have been ascribed to various depositional agencies occurring in several distinctly differing terrestrial and marine palaeoenvironments. In contrast, the Pleistocene diamicton is regarded as a subglacial till. Both diamicts appear remarkably similar visually and contain many corresponding features such as macrostructures, and exotic and fractured subangular to subrounded clasts. Micromorphology is used to re-examine these diamicts/diamictites at the microscopic level to detect if the palaeoenvironments within which they were deposited can be ascertained. In this paper a quantitative assessment of microstructures using micromorphology is developed. Comparative statistical analyses of these diamicts, using micromorphological features, reveals that the Jurassic diamictites are non-glacigenic, non-terrestrial and most likely deposited within a marine environment as a result of subaquatic debris mass movement, while, in contrast, the Pleistocene diamicts were most likely subglacial tectomicts deposited beneath the active base of the Laurentide Ice Sheet.

Keywords

diamictitesdiamictonsdiamictstillmicromorphologyJurassicconglomeratesPleistocenestatistical analyses
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 88 , Issue 1 , March 2009 , pp. 75 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2009

References

Abbink, O., Targarona, J., Brinkhuis, H. & Visscher, H., 2001. Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous palaeoclimatic evolution of the southern North Sea. Global and Planetary Change 30: 231–256.Google Scholar
Allaby, A. & Allaby, M., (eds), 1999. The Dictionary of Earth Sciences, Oxford University Press (NY) USA: 512pp.Google Scholar
Allen, J.R.L., 1982. Sedimentary Structures: Their Character and Physical Basis. 2 Volumes. Elsevier Science Publishing (Amsterdam): 611 and 679pp.Google Scholar
Bailey, E.B., & Weir, J., 1932. Submarine faulting in Kimmeridgian times: East Sutherland. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 47: 431–467.Google Scholar
Bailey, E.B., Collet, L.W. & Field, R.M., 1928. Paleozoic submarine landslips near Quebec City. Journal of Geology 36: 577.Google Scholar
Bardou, E., Boivin, P. & Pfeifer, H.-R., 2007. Properties of debris flow deposits and source materials compared: implications for debris flow characterization. Sedimentology 54: 469–480.Google Scholar
Barnett, P.J., 1992. Quaternary. In: Thurston, P.C., Williams, H. R., Sutcliffe, R. H., Stott, G. M. (eds): Geology of Ontario, Ontario Geological Survey (Toronto): 1011–1090.Google Scholar
Bertran, P., 1993. Deformation-induced microstructures in soils affected by mass movements. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 18: 645–660.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bertran, P., & Texier, J.-P., 1999. Sedimentation Processes and Facies on a Semi-Vegetated, Talus, Lousteau, Southwestern France. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 24: 177–188.3.0.CO;2-R>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blake, J.F., 1902. On a remarkable inlier among the Jurassic rocks of Sutherland and its bearing on the origin of the breccia-beds. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 57: 290–312.Google Scholar
Boës, X. & Fagel, N., 2005 Impregnation method for detecting annual laminations in sediment cores: an overview. Sedimentary Geology 179: 185–194.Google Scholar
Boulton, G.S., & Zatsepin, S., 2006. Hydraulic impacts of glacier advance over a sediment bed. Journal of Glaciology 179: 497–527.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Camuti, K.P. & McGuire, P., 1999. Preparation of polished thin-sections from poorly consolidated regolith and sediment materials. Sedimentary Geology 128: 171–178.Google Scholar
Carr, S.J., 2000. Micromorphological evidence supporting late Weichselian glaciation of the northern North Sea. Boreas 29: 315–328.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crowell, J.C., 1961. Depositional structures from Jurassic boulder beds, east Sutherland. Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society 18, 202–220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crowell, J.C., 1999. Pre-Mesozoic ice ages; their bearing on understanding the climate system. Memoir - Geological Society of America 192: 106pp.Google Scholar
Evans, D.J.A., Phillips, E.R., Hiemstra, J.F. & Auton, C.A., 2006. Subglacial till: formation, sedimentary characteristics and classification. Earth Science Reviews 78: 115–176.Google Scholar
Eyles, N, Eyles, C.H. & Menzies, J., submitted. Rapid generation of deformation till below a fast flowing Laurentide Ice Sheet lobe: Wildfield Till, Southern Ontario, Canada. Quaternary Science Reviews.Google Scholar
Flint, R.F., 1971. Glacial and Quaternary Geology, John Wiley & Sons (New York and London): 892pp.Google Scholar
Folk, R.L., 1954. The distinction between grain size and mineral composition in sedimentary rock nomenclature. Journal of Geology 62: 344–359.Google Scholar
Friedman, G.M., 2003. Classification of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks. In: Middleton, G.V. et al. (eds): Encyclopedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks, Kluwer Academic Publishers (Dordrecht): 127–136.Google Scholar
Hart, J.K., 2006. An investigation of subglacial processes at the microscale from Briksdalsbreen, Norway. Sedimentology 53: 125–146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hiemstra, J.F., & Van der Meer, J.J.M., 1997. Pore-water controlled grain fracturing as indicator for subglacial shearing in tills. Journal of Glaciology 43: 446–454.Google Scholar
Hiemstra, J.K. & Rijsdijk, K.F., 2003. Observing artificially induced strain: implications for subglacial deformation. Journal of Quaternary Science 18: 373–383.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hudson, J.D. & Trewin, N.H., 2002. Jurassic. In: Trewin, N.H. (ed.): The Geology of Scotland, The Geological Society of London (London): 323–350.Google Scholar
Jenner, K.A., Piper, D.J.W., Campbell, D.C. & Mosher, D.C., 2007. Lithofacies and origin of late Quaternary mass transport deposits in submarine canyons, central Scotian Slope, Canada Sedimentology 54: 19–38.Google Scholar
Judd, J.W., 1873. The secondary rocks of Scotland. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 29: 97–195.Google Scholar
Karrow, P.F., 1987. Quaternary geology of the Hamilton-Cambridge area, southern Ontario. Ontario Geological Survey Report 255, Ontario Geological Survey, Toronto, Canada.Google Scholar
Karrow, P.F., 1989. Quaternary geology of the Great Lakes subregion. In: Fulton, R.J. (ed.): Quaternary Geology of Canada and Greenland. Geological Survey of Canada No. 1 also Geological Society of America, The Geology of North America v. K-1: 326–350.Google Scholar
Kemp, R.A., 1985. Soil Micromorphology and the Quaternary. Quaternary Research Association Technical Guide No. 2: 80pp.Google Scholar
Kubiëna, W.L., 1938. Micropedology. Collegiate Press (Ames, Iowa): 243pp.Google Scholar
Lachniet, M.S., Larson, G.J., Lawson, D.E., Evenson, E.B. & Alley, R.B., 2001. Microstructures of sediment flow deposits and subglacial sediments. Boreas 30: 254–262.Google Scholar
Larsen, N.K., Piotrowski, J.A., Christoffersen, P. & Menzies, J., 2006. Formation and deformation of basal till during a glacier surge; Elisebreen, Svalbard. Geomorphology 81: 217–234.Google Scholar
Larsen, N.K., Piotrowski, J.A. & Menzies, J., 2007. Microstructural evidence of low-strain, time-transgressive subglacial deformation. Journal of Quaternary Science 22: 593–608.Google Scholar
Lee, J.R. & Phillips, E.R., 2008. Progressive soft sediment deformation within a subglacial shear zone – a hybrid mosaic-pervasive deformation model for Middle Pleistocene glaciotectonised sediments from eastern England. Quaternary Science Reviews, 27: 1350–1362.Google Scholar
MacDonald, A.C.T. & Trewin, N.H., 1993. The Upper Jurassic of the Helmsdale area. In: Trewin, N.H. (ed.): Excursion guide to the geology of East Sutherland and Caithness. Scottish Academic Press (Edinburgh): 75–114.Google Scholar
Maltman, A.J., 1988. The importance of shear zones in naturally deformed wet sediments. Tectonophysics 145: 163–175.Google Scholar
Maltman, A.J. (ed), 1994. The geological deformation of sediments. Chapman & Hall (London): 362pp.Google Scholar
Matsuda, J.-i., 2000. Seismic deformation structures of the post-2300 a BP muddy sediments in Kawachi lowland plain, Osaka, Japan. Sedimentary Geology 135: 99–116.Google Scholar
Menzies, J., 2000a. Micromorphological analyses of microfabrics and microstructures, indicative of deformation processes, in glacial sediments. In: Maltman, A.J., Hubbard, B. & Hambrey, M.J. (eds): Deformation of Glacial Materials (Geological Society, London): 245–258.Google Scholar
Menzies, J., 2000b. Microstructures in diamictites of the lower Gowganda Formation (Huronian), near Elliot Lake, Ontario; evidence for deforming-bed conditions at the grounding line? Journal of Sedimentary Research 70: 210–216.Google Scholar
Menzies, J. & Brand, U., 2007. The internal sediment architecture of a drumlin, Port Byron, New York State, USA. Quaternary Science Reviews 26: 322–335.Google Scholar
Menzies, J. & Shilts, W.W., 1996. Subglacial Environments. In: Menzies, J. (ed): Past Glacial Environments – sediments, forms and techniques. Butterworth-Heinemann (Oxford): 15–136.Google Scholar
Menzies, J. & Taylor, J.M., 2003. Seismically induced soft-sediment microstructures (seismites) from Meikleour, western Strathmore, Scotland. Boreas 32: 314–327.Google Scholar
Menzies, J. & Zaniewski, K., 2003. Microstructures within a modern debris flow deposit derived from Quaternary glacial diamicton – a comparative micromorphological study. Sedimentary Geology 157: 131–48.Google Scholar
Menzies, J., Van der Meer, J.J.M. & Rose, J., 2006. Till – as a Glacial ‘Tectomict’, its internal architecture, and the development of a ‘typing’ method for till differentiation. Geomorphology 75: 172–200.Google Scholar
Mulder, T. & Alexander, J., 2001. The physical character of subaqueous sedimentary density flows and their deposits. Sedimentology 48: 269–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murchison, R.I., 1827. On the coal-field of Brora in Sutherlandshire. Transactions Geological Society of London 2: 293–326.Google Scholar
Norton, W.H., 1917. A classification of breccias. Journal of Geology 25: 160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Brien, N.R. & Slatt, R.M., 1990. Argillaceous Rock Atlas. Springer-Verlag (New York): 141 ppGoogle Scholar
Pettijohn, F.J., 1975. Sedimentary Rocks. Harper Row (New York): 628 pp.Google Scholar
Phillips, E.R., 2006. Micromorphology of a debris flow deposit: evidence of basal shearing, hydrofracturing, liquefaction and rotational deformation during emplacement. Quaternary Science Reviews 25: 720–738.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phillips, E.R. & Auton, C.A., 2000. Micromorphological evidence for polyphase deformation of glaciolacustrine sediments from Strathspey, Scotland. In: Maltman, A.J., Hubbard, B. & Hambrey, M.J., (eds): Geological Society of London (London): 279–292.Google Scholar
Phillips, E.R. & Auton, C. A., 2007. Microtextural analysis of a glacially ‘deformed’ bedrock: implications for inheritance of preferred clast orientations in diamictons. J. Quaternary Science 23: 229–240.Google Scholar
Phillips, E.R., Evans, D.J.A. & Auton, C.A., 2002. Polyphase deformation at an oscillating ice margin following the Loch Lomond Readvance, central Scotland, UK. Sedimentary Geology 149: 157–182.Google Scholar
Pickering, K.T., 1984. The Upper Jurassic ‘Boulder Beds’ and related deposits: a fault-controlled submarine slope, NE Scotland. Journal of the Geological Society of London 141: 357–374.Google Scholar
Price, G.D., 1999. The evidence and implications of polar ice during the Mesozoic. Earth Science Reviews 48: 183–210.Google Scholar
Ramsay, A.C., 1865. The Glacial Theory of Lake Basins. Philosophical Magazine 29: 285.Google Scholar
Schermerhorn, L.J.G., 1966. Terminology of mixed coarse-fine sediments. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 36: 831–835.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schieber, J., 2003. Depositional fabric of mudstones. In: Middleton, G.V. et al. (eds): Encyclopedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks, Kluwer Academic Publishers (Dordrecht): 203–207.Google Scholar
Scott, B. & Price, S., 1988. Earthquake-induced structure in young sediments. Tectonophysics 147: 165–170.Google Scholar
Stewart, I.S., Sauber, J. & Rose, J., 2000. Glacio-Seismotectonics: Ice Sheets, Crustal Deformation and Seismicity. Quaternary Science Reviews 19: 1367–1389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stoops, G., 2003. Guidelines for analysis and description of soil and regolith thin sections. Soil Science Society of American (Madison, WI): 184 pp.Google Scholar
Thomason, J.F. & Iverson, N.R., 2006. Microfabric and microshear evolution in deformed till. Quaternary Science Reviews 25: 1027–1038.Google Scholar
Van der Meer, J.J.M., 1993. Microscopic evidence of subglacial deformation. Quaternary Science Reviews 12: 553–587.Google Scholar
Van der Meer, J.J.M., 1996. Micromorphology. In: Menzies, J, (ed.), Past Glacial Environments – sediments, forms and techniques. Butterworth-Heinemann (Oxford): 335–356.Google Scholar
Van der Meer, J.J.M., Menzies, J. & Rose, J., 2003. Subglacial till: the deforming glacier bed. Quaternary Science Reviews 22: 1659–1685.Google Scholar
Wignall, P.B.P. & Pickering, K.T., 1993. Palaeoecology and sedimentology across a Jurassic fault scarp, NE Scotland. Journal of the Geological Society of London 150: 323–340.Google Scholar
Ziegler, P.A., 1990. Geological Atlas of Western and Central Europe (2nd ed.) Shell International Exploration and Production, the Hague.Google Scholar