Insights Into Landform Genesis Based on Lithological References Provenance Studies in the Western South Andersson, G
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG Department of Earth Sciences Geovetarcentrum/Earth Science Centre PROVENANCE OF PEBBLE CLASTS IN HUMMOCKS IN THE EASTERN SOUTH SWEDISH HIGHLANDS NEAR GULLASKRUV Martin Thor Karin Grodzinsky ISSN 1400-3821 B931 Bachelor of Science thesis Göteborg 2016 Mailing address Address Telephone Telefax Geovetarcentrum Geovetarcentrum Geovetarcentrum 031-786 19 56 031-786 19 86 Göteborg University S 405 30 Göteborg Guldhedsgatan 5A S-405 30 Göteborg SWEDEN Table of contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Aim of study ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Research question .............................................................................................................................. 3 Study site & geology ............................................................................................................................... 3 Bedrock geology ................................................................................................................................. 3 Deglaciation of southern Sweden ...................................................................................................... 7 Acquisition and transport of glacial debris ......................................................................................... 7 Hummocks ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Hummocks in Gullaskruv .................................................................................................................... 9 Esker formation .................................................................................................................................. 9 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Field work ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Lab work ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Rock descriptions ............................................................................................................................. 12 Provenance studies .......................................................................................................................... 14 CHI2 test ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Provenance markers......................................................................................................................... 14 Shape analysis .................................................................................................................................. 15 Discussion............................................................................................................................................. 17 Provenance study ............................................................................................................................. 17 CHI2-test .......................................................................................................................................... 18 Difference between eskers and hummocks ..................................................................................... 18 Shape analysis .................................................................................................................................. 20 Hummock formation ........................................................................................................................ 20 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 21 Further studies ..................................................................................................................................... 21 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. 22 References ........................................................................................................................................... 22 Appendices ........................................................................................................................................... 24 1 Abstract Hummocks occur in many forms in southern Sweden. However, the genesis of these landforms has not fully been understood. The new LiDAR dataset covering Sweden is a new source of information with large possibilities for giving further insight on the genesis of many glacial landforms, including hummocks. Provenance studies of sediment in hummocks on the south Swedish highlands, near Gullaskruv, suggest a very local provenance where granites, rhyolites and porphyries from the Transscandinavian Igneous Belt predominate. Some of the furthest transported clasts are inferred to come from the Vetlanda group and nearby basalt formations, 70 km away. Shape analysis on clasts from the hummocks imply that the sediment composing the hummocks is similar to sediment of known subglacial origin. Lithological provenance studies and shape analysis suggests that the clasts have been locally eroded, entrained and deposited with a maximum transportation distance of 70 km. The studied samples have been compared statistically and lithologically to samples with the same grain size from eskers in order to strengthen a possible transportation mechanism. The difference that was found between the hummocks and the eskers can probably be traced back to that the sediment in the two types of landforms had different transport routes and distances. Sammanfattning Hummocks förekommer i många former i södra Sverige. Men bildningen av dessa landformer har inte helt förståtts. Den nya LiDAR-datan över Sverige är en ny källa till information med stora möjligheter att ge ytterligare insikt om uppkomsten av många glaciala landformer, bland annat hummocks. Provenansstudier av sediment från hummocks på Sydsvenska höglandet, nära Gullaskruv, föreslår en mycket lokal härkomst där graniter, ryoliter och porfyrer från Transskandinaviska magmatiska bältet dominerar. Några av de längst transporterade klasterna kan härledas att komma från Vetlandagruppen och närliggande basaltformationer, 70 km bort. Shape analys på klaster från dessa hummocks antyder att moränen som utgör dessa landformer liknar sediment av känt subglacialt ursprung. Litologiska provenansstudier och Shape analys tyder på att dessa klaster har blivit lokalt eroderade, transporterade och avsatta med en maximal transportsträcka på 70 km. De studerade proverna har blivit jämförda statistiskt och litologiskt med prover med samma kornstorlek från rullstensåsar för att stärka en möjlig transportmekanism. Skillnaden som påträffats mellan hummocksen och rullstensåsarna kan troligtvis spåras till att sedimentet i de två landformerna hade olika transportvägar och transportavstånd. Keywords: hummocky terrain, esker, South Swedish Highlands, provenance, glacial geomorphology, LIDAR 2 Introduction Research question What is the provenance of the sediment in Hummocks and associated landforms occur these “fish scale” hummocks? widely on the south Swedish highlands. They are a type of glacial landform which are Is there a significant statistical difference enigmatic and widely discussed. Many between the clasts in the studied hummocks different theories have been presented and eskers in the area? If so, can this help in regarding their genesis, and it is likely that determining the genesis of the hummocks? similar forms can be made by more than one These two groups of samples will be examined process. To simplify, there are a few different separately and compared to each other in theories on their formation: One theory order to establish whether or not a significant suggests that debris-rich ice is thrusted at the statistical difference can be found between top of the glacier and later on deposited as hills them. when the glacier melts (Johnson & Clayton, 2003). Another where they are interpreted as Study site & geology supraglacial and, or subglacial deposits, where The area studied in this thesis lies on the south till is melted out from a stagnant ice (Johnson Swedish highlands in Småland, Kalmar län, et al., 1995). Still another is one where the approximately halfway between Växjö and hummocks are interpreted to form when Kalmar in Nybro municipality (Fig. 1). The study subglacial debris is thrusted to a en- or area lies within an area bounded by supraglacial position. This debris is then 56°54'33.5"N, 15°39'17.8"E and 56°51'15.3"N, collapsed down when the ice melts, in an active 15°40'49.1"E. Sampling was made at three ice setting, creating hummocks (Hambrey et hummocks and three eskers, in the study area al., 1997). Previously, the hummocks in the which is shown in Fig. 1. The studied hummocks south Swedish highlands have been considered are highlighted in