Mass flow and hydrofracturing during Late Devensian moraine emplacement, NE Scotland

Phillips, Emrys; Kearsey, Timothy I.. 2020 Mass flow and hydrofracturing during Late Devensian moraine emplacement, NE Scotland. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 131 (6). 730-750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2020.08.002

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2020.08.002

Abstract/Summary

This paper presents the results of a detailed study of a sequence of Late Devensian (Weichselian) sands, gravels and diamictons exposed within a recessional moraine near Loch Killin, near Fort Augustus, Monadhliath Mountains, NE Scotland. Macroscale sedimentological and structural field observations are combined with micromorphological and micro-structural analysis to investigate the ice-marginal processes which led to the construction of this landform. Microstructures present within the stratified diamictons mantling the glacitectonised core of the moraine reveal a complex history of microfabric development resulting from ductile shearing during the emplacement of these ice-marginal mass flow deposits. Shearing occurred throughout the entire mass flow with flowage occurring towards the WNW. The laminated sediments which infill a number of steeply inclined hydrofractures which cut the moraine are interpreted as having accommodated several phases of fluid flow, with a palaeoflow direction towards the WNW. A detailed model of ice-marginal landform development has been established involving glacitectonism as a result of ice-push during a readvance of the glacier, followed by mass flow of sediments released as a result of melting of the snout during a period of still stand, followed by hydrofracturing accompanying the escape of pressurised meltwater from beneath the ice, probably during the initial stages of glacier retreat.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2020.08.002
ISSN:	00167878
Date made live:	28 Jan 2021 12:36 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/529533

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2020.08.002

ISSN:

00167878

Date made live:

28 Jan 2021 12:36 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/529533