Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

1. (a) In your own words, summarize how clast fabric analysis can be used to inv

ID: 295767 • Letter: 1

Question

1. (a) In your own words, summarize how clast fabric analysis can be used to investigate Quaternary deposits. (b) Explain in your own words why ice flow directions inferred from striation, fabric, and landform data may differ. What are the consequences for Quaternary interpretation? 1. (a) In your own words, summarize how clast fabric analysis can be used to investigate Quaternary deposits. (b) Explain in your own words why ice flow directions inferred from striation, fabric, and landform data may differ. What are the consequences for Quaternary interpretation? (b) Explain in your own words why ice flow directions inferred from striation, fabric, and landform data may differ. What are the consequences for Quaternary interpretation?

Explanation / Answer

a) The spatial arrangement or orientation, i.e. the fabric of grains or clasts in a glacial deposit is a key indicator of how ice flowed in the geological past especially during the Quarternary period. The fabric of the clastic sediments on a macroscopic scale enables geologists to identify the azimuthal movement of ice. Observations on such a scale can give insights into stress-strain relationships and aid in determining whether the deformation took place due to glacier flow or not.

b) Differences in ice flow directions inferred from geological records arise due to the fact that ice was under the influence of natural forces such as gravity. The dynamics of ice were controlled by factors such as topographic relief, air temperature, the water content in the ground. The natural conditions during the Quarternary underwent significant changes which are used for comparison with the long-term climate change that involved highly fluctuating periods of warming and cooling.