Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Mylroie, John E.

Committee Member

Schmitz, Darrel W.

Committee Member

Clary, Renee M.

Date of Degree

5-11-2013

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Geosciences

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

Eight dissolution caves from the Helderberg Plateau in Schoharie County, New York were studied to investigate unusual sediment packages previously interpreted to be deposits laid down during stagnant ice-cover conditions of the Wisconsin glaciation. The sediment package, consisting of white finely laminated silts and clays are overlain by coarse gravels, in turn overlain by dark silts and clays. Analysis of 63 sediment samples was inconclusive in terms of organic content, but indicated a higher degree of fine-grained calcite material in the white clays than in the overlying units. The caves with the white clays exist only within the footprint of Glacial Lake Schoharie, with lower elevation caves containing a thicker white clay sequence, a measure of the duration of lake cover. The sediment sequence represents glacial rock flour formed under stagnant lake conditions, overlain by outwash deposits emplaced during lake termination, and more recent sediment from soil-loss deposition.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/20598

Comments

Glacier caves--New York (State)||Karst.||Glacial lakes--New York (State)||Glacial Lake Schoharie||Glaciated Karst

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