Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 6-2010 Glaciotectonic Deformation along the Valparaiso Upland in Southwest Michigan, USA Brian C. Bird Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Geology Commons, Geomorphology Commons, and the Glaciology Commons Recommended Citation Bird, Brian C., "Glaciotectonic Deformation along the Valparaiso Upland in Southwest Michigan, USA" (2010). Dissertations. 349. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/349 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GLACIOTECTONIC DEFORMATION ALONG THE VALPARAISO UPLAND IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN, USA by Brian C. Bird A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Geoscience Advisor: Alan E. Kehew, Ph.D. Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan June 2010 UMI Number: 3470399 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI' Dissertation Publishing UMI 3470399 Copyright 2010 by ProQuest LLC, All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. uestA ® ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 GLACIOTECTONIC DEFORMATION ALONG THE VALPARAISO UPLAND IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN, USA Brian C. Bird, Ph.D. Western Michigan University, 2010 Glaciotectonic deformation has been observed and analyzed across parts of the Valparaiso, Kendall, and Inner Kalamazoo Moraines in southwest Michigan, USA. Deformation structures such as folds and faults have been analyzed using techniques typically used by structural geologist along with the fabric of elongated clasts in the surficial diamicton. The structures are consistent with simple shear, horizontal compressional stresses, and pure shear. A series of drumlin fields exist along the western boundary of the study area. Direct investigation of the deformed sediments was conducted at a gravel pit in one of these drumlins. Lacustrine derived sediments interbedded with coarse sand and gravel dominate the stratigraphy of the study area. The rheology of the sediments is responsible for the deformation observed as the Lake Michigan Lobe (LML) readvanced across the area to the Kalamazoo Moraine. The LML readvanced into a proglacial lake system impounded between the ice margin and the Kalamazoo Moraine. The lacustrine sediments, restricting the flow of subglacial water, increases the pore water pressure, which in turn decreased the shear strength of the sediments promoting the deformation of these sediments. Advancing ice deformed sediments in two stages, proglacially along a decollement at the margin, then subglacially as ice overrode the sediments. Copyright by Brian C. Bird 2010 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge the Department of Geosciences of Western Michigan University. The department offered a challenging yet enjoyable experience. The knowledge and experience gained is invaluable. I would like to first acknowledge my advisor Dr. Alan Kehew for his patience and help during this process. I truly appreciate it. I also would like to acknowledge Dr. Ronald Chase and Dr. William Sauck for their help being on my committee. I appreciate their assistance and thoughts. Lastly, for the committee I must acknowledge my best friend Dr. Andrew L. Kozlowski. Having been friends for many years there is little we have not been through. I am haunted by the near death experiences of drilling wells while at the same time amused at the never-ending comedy. I would not be here without him. Though not on my committee and never had taken one of her classes I must acknowledge Dr. Carla Koretsky for her tremendous help with my program of study and the graduate college. Finally, I need to acknowledge my loving wife Kelly McHugh. Thanks for the help, love and understanding. Brian C. Bird ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Location 1 Nature of the Problem 6 Background of Glaciotectonic Deformation 9 Till Fabric 12 Folds 14 Faults 17 2 PREVIOUS WORK IB Surficial Mapping 18 Geologic Setting 20 Glacial Landforms 22 Southwest Michigan Chronostratigraphy 25 Deformation of Glacial Sediments 30 3 METHODS OF INQUIRY 34 Data Collection 34 Fold and Fault Data 35 iii Table of Contents - Continued CHAPTER Fabric Data 37 Data Analysis 39 Analysis Procedure 40 Folds 40 Faults 42 Till Fabric 43 4 RESULTS 46 Tacy Pit 48 Stratigraphy 48 Deformation 51 White Pit 56 Stratigraphy 57 Deformation 57 Wyoming Pit 58 Stratigraphy 58 Deformation 62 Michigan Paving Pit 65 Stratigraphy 66 Deformation 68 iv Table of Contents - Continued CHAPTER Kusmack Pit 69 Stratigraphy 69 Deformation 71 Klett Pit 72 Stratigraphy 73 Deformation 74 Cleveland Pit 76 Stratigraphy 76 Deformation 80 Remington Pit 82 Stratigraphy 83 Deformation 84 Smith Pit 87 Stratigraphy 87 Deformation 88 Brewster Pit 94 Stratigraphy 94 Deformation 94 JD Pit 98 v Table of Contents - Continued CHAPTER Stratigraphy 98 Deformation 98 Compilation Data 103 5 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 107 Ice Melt-Out 107 Ductile Deformation of Glacial Sediments 108 Sediment Grain-Size Ill Pore Water Pressure 111 Topography 112 Stresses Under the LML 115 Deformation in Drumlins 120 Sequence of Events 126 Conclusions 130 APPENDIX 132 BIBLIOGRAPHY 140 vi LIST OF TABLES 4.1: Stratigraphic Code for Glacial Sediments Listed in Stratigraphic Logs ....47 vii LIST OF FIGURES 1.1: Extent of Laurentide Ice Sheet and Later Ice Lobes 2 1.2: Location of Aggregate Mining Operations within the Study Area 3 1.3: Traditionally Mapped Moraines in Southwest Michigan 5 1.4: Digital Elevation Model of Southwest Michigan 6 1.5: Fold Nomenclature 8 1.6: Deformation Style 11 1.7: Deformation of the Saugatuck Till across the Study Area 13 1.8: Folds Influenced by Progressively Increasing Shear 16 1.9: Conjugate Fault Pair 17 2.1: Aggregate Mining Operation Locations along the Traditionally Mapped Valparaiso, Kendall, and Inner Kalamazoo Moraines 19 2.2: Bedrock Geology of Michigan 21 2.3: Features A and B on the Inner Kalamazoo Moraine within the Study Area 24 2.4: Time-Distance Plot of Glacial Chronology for Western Lake Michigan Lobe... 27 2.5: Time-Distance Plot of Glacial Chronology Including the Eastern and Northern Great Lakes 28 2.6: Approximate Age of Major Advances by the Lake Michigan Lobe 29 3.1: Gravel Pit Locations in the Study Area 35 3.33.2: Fol71- Diagrad Axism Measuremen Constructiot nb y Excavation of the Hinge Area 4318 viii List of Figures - Continued 3.4: Relationship of Applied Stress to Fold Axis Orientation 42 3.5: Orientation of Principle Stress Directions for a Faulted Block 44 3.6: Trend and Plunge Stereonet Plot of Elongated Clasts in Diamicton 45 4.1: Aggregate Mining Operations in the Study Area 46 4.2: Key to Values Presented with Fabric and Fold Axes Data 48 4.3: Tacy Pit Location 49 4.4: Tacy Pit Stratigraphic Log 50 4.5: Photographs of Diamicton in Tacy Pit 52 4.6: Clast Fabric Plot of Diamicton in Tacy Pit 53 4.7: Folds in the Tacy Pit 54 4.8: White Pit Location 56 4.9: White Pit Stratigraphic Log 57 4.10: Folds in the White Pit 59 4.11: Wyoming Pit Location 60 4.12: Wyoming Pit Stratigraphic Log 61 4.13: Deformation Observed in the Wyoming Pit 63 4.14: Wyoming Pit Structural Data 64 4.15: Michigan Paving Location 65 4.16: Michigan Paving Pit Stratigraphic Log 66 ix List of Figures - Continued 4.17: Deformation Observed in the Michigan Paving Pit 67 4.18: Stereonet Plots of Folds in the Michigan Paving Pit 68 4.19: Kusmack Pit Location 70 4.20: Kusmack Pit Stratigraphic Log 71 4.21: Deformation Observed in the Kusmack Pit 71 4.22: Klett Pit Location 72 4.23: Klett Pit Stratigraphic Log 74 4.24: Structural Data of Folds at the Base of the Diamicton in the Klett Pit 75 4.25: Clast Fabric Analysis of the Diamicton in the Klett Pit 76 4.26: Cleveland Pit Location 77 4.27: Cleveland Pit Stratigraphic Log 78 4.28: Deformation Observed in the Cleveland Pit 79 4.29: Deformation Observed in the Cleveland Pit 81 4.30: Clast Fabric Analysis of the Diamicton in the Cleveland Pit 82 4.31: Remington Pit Stratigraphic Log 84 4.32: Deformation Observed in the Remington Pit 85 4.33: Structural Data of Deformation in the Remington Pit 86 4.34: Clast Fabric Analysis of Diamicton in the Remington Pit 87 4.35: Smith Pit Location 89 4.36: Smith Pit Stratigraphic Log 90 x List of Figures - Continued 4.37: Deformation Observed in the Smith Pit 91 4.38: Clast Fabric Analysis of Diamicton in the Smith Pit 93 4.39: Clay Partings Perpendicular to Bedding found in the Hinge Area of a Fold .... 93 4.40: Brewster Pit Location 95 4.41: Brewster Pit Stratigraphic Log 96 4.42: Folds Observed in the Brewster Pit 97 4.43: JD Pit Location 99 4.44: JD Pit Stratigraphic Log 100 4.45: Deformation Observed in the JD Pit 101 4.46: Conjugate Reverse Faults in the JD Pit 102 4.47: Compilation of Data for the Cleveland Pit 103 4.48: Compilation