Submarine End Moraines and Associated Deposits on the Scotian Shelf

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 1969 Submarine End Moraines and Associated Deposits on the Scotian Shelf LEWIS H KING LEWIS H KING Atlantic Oceanographic Laboratory, Bedford Institute, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1969) 80 (1): 83–96. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1969)80[83:SEMAAD]2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 06 Mar 1968 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation LEWIS H KING; Submarine End Moraines and Associated Deposits on the Scotian Shelf. GSA Bulletin 1969;; 80 (1): 83–96. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1969)80[83:SEMAAD]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract A submarine end-moraine complex occurs on the Scotian Shelf south and east of Halifax at 30 to 40 km offshore. It extends as a belt of low ridges which lies parallel to the present coast. Some of the larger individual ridges extend up to 55 km in length, with a slight arcuate pattern, and are an average of 50 m in height above the underlying bedrock. The full extent of the system has not been determined; however, a cursory examination indicates its occurrence along at least 500 km of the coast, in water depths ranging from 70 to 200 m.The moraine pattern is not revealed on the published bathymetric chart, because the ridges are to a large degree sub-bottom features, masked by ponded clay and silt deposits. However, the extreme peaks of some ridges may crop out slightly above the clay and silt of the bottom, so that their pattern must be resolved by detailed geologic mapping. The materials forming the exposed portions of the ridges range from relatively unaltered to completely reworked glacial debris, depending on the depth of water in which they occur.Resolution of the moraine pattern is greatly enhanced when the ridges are mapped as sub-bottom features, using high-frequency echograms obtained at closely spaced intervals. The degree of penetration with such an echo-sounder is limited essentially to the base of the clay, but the full profile of the moraines above the underlying bedrock is revealed by low-frequency, continuous seismic reflection profiles.Sub-bottom records and textural data on bottom samples indicate the occurrence of stratified proglacial deposits associated with the moraines. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.