Title: Quaternary Investigations in the Patterson Island Area (part of NTS 64E-10 and -15), Reindeer Lake, Eastern Peter Lake Domain
Abstract: Quaternary geological investigations were initiated in the Patterson Island area, Reindeer Lake (part of 64E-10 and -15), as part of the multidisciplinary, multi-year Peter Lake Domain Project. The Quaternary component of the project involves surficial mapping at 1:50 000 scale, recording ice-flow indicators, and regional till sampling surveys. Multiple ice-flow directions were documented. The dominant ice-flow direction was to the south-southwest (205° to 210°); becoming more southwesterly (215° to 220°) towards the southern boundary of the map area. Two older regional ice flows were recorded: a more southerly (~190°) direction and a west-southwesterly (228° to 240°) one. Rare, faint striae sets trending 154°/332o (two sets) and 295°/115o (one set) were also recorded. Drift cover in the Patterson Lake area is variable. In the northern two thirds, the terrain is dominated by bedrock (approximately 40 to 50 percent) mantled with a thin (less than 2 m), discontinuous drift cover. Thus, the present day landscape is controlled by the bedrock topography with little geomorphic expression of the glacial deposits. Southward, the drift thickens and is more extensive, with bedrock exposure less than 10 percent. Here, the landscape is more subdued and reflects both glacial geomorphic features and bedrock topography. The dominant surficial sediments in the Patterson Island area are till and organic deposits. Sand and gravel deposits are associated with esker systems, minor meltwater drainage channels, stagnant ice hummocky moraines, and glaciolacustrine littoral deposits. Minor glaciolacustrine silts and sands are not sufficiently extensive to differentiate at this map scale. Till occurs primarily as ground moraine veneer (less than 2 m thick) and plain (greater than 2 m thick), hummocky moraine and stagnant ice moraine. Ridged moraine and streamlined forms such as drumlins and crag and tails are less common. Till composition varies with the type of deposit, thickness and source rocks from which it is derived. At least three facies were identified: a silty-sand to sandy till, sandy till and a gravely sand diamicton. Sporadic lacustrine deposits and raised strandlines, such as sand and cobble beaches, terraces and wave-cut notches indicate that Glacial Reindeer Lake and glacial Lake Agassiz extended further north and west than originally thought. Much of the area below ~350 m asl is characterised by exposed outcrop, boulder lags and winnowed till. A large part of the northern half of the area is not very suitable for drift prospecting, as bedrock, ice marginal and wave-reworked deposits dominate the terrain. Drift prospecting techniques are more applicable in the south where the drift cover is more extensive. Interpretation of pending till compositional data will help determine the effectiveness of till sampling in this region.
Publication Year: 2003
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 2
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