Glacio-lacustrine facies of the Finger Lakes region of New York state
- Syracuse Univ., NY (United States). Dept. of Geology
A high-resolution (< 1 m), Uniboom seismic reflection survey ([approximately]1,500 km) of the eleven lakes that comprise the Finger Lakes of central New York State has revealed the nature of the thick (270 m at a maximum) glacio-lacustrine sediment-fill beneath the lakes. These seismic data have been ground truthed via piston cores from Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, as well as drillcore and geophysical data from the dry valley south ([approximately]3 km) of Canandaigua Lake, and outcrop exposures. Six depositional sequences, each with distinct acoustic characteristics, have been recognized. The oldest sequence (1) typically occurs in the southern third of each lake basin where it is as much as 100+ m thick. It is characterized by a chaotic facies and is correlated with outcrops of the stratified, waterlain drift of the Valley Heads Moraine. Sequence 2 is characterized by a lateral change from a chaotic (north) to reflection-free or transparent (south) facies. Piston cores from an esker-like ridge in Cayuga Lake recovered fine-grained rhythmites with dropstones before bottoming in a clast-supported gravel. Sequence 3 is characterized by an acoustically transparent facies. Although this sequence was not sampled, this seismic facies suggests rapidly deposited, fine-grained sediments. Sequence 4 is characterized by continuous parallel, high-frequency reflections. Drillcore south of Canandaigua Lake recovered a coarsening-upward sequence of sands and gravels (with artesian water). Sequence 6 is characterized throughout each lake basin by a low amplitude to acoustically transparent facies. In general, the sedimentary record beneath the Finger Lakes reflects an overall change from high-energy, subglacial deposition to lower energy, proglacial deposition as a result of the northward retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet during Termination 1A of the marine record.
- OSTI ID:
- 5505411
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9303211-; CODEN: GAAPBC
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 25:2; Conference: 28. annual Geological Society of America (GSA) Northeastern Section meeting, Burlington, VT (United States), 22-24 Mar 1993; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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