*8,'(%22.12 48$7(51$5<*(2/2*<$/21*7+( ($67(510$5*,12)7+(6&,272/2%( ,1&(175$/2+,2 E\ 7RG$)URONLQJ 'HSDUWPHQWRI*HRORJ\DQG*HRJUDSK\'HQLVRQ8QLYHUVLW\ DQG -RKQ36]DER 'HSDUWPHQWRI*HRORJ\8QLYHUVLW\RI$NURQ DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 4383 FOUNTAIN SQUARE DRIVE COLUMBUS, OHIO 43224-1362 (614) 265-6576 (614) 447-1918 (FAX) e-mail: [email protected] World Wide Web: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/odnr/geo_survey/ OHIO GEOLOGY ADVISORY COUNCIL Dr. E. Scott Bair, representing Hydrogeology Mr. Mark R. Rowland, representing Environmental Geology Ms. F. Lynn Kantner, representing At-Large Citizens Dr. Mark R. Boardman, representing Higher Education Mr. David Wilder, representing Coal Mr. William M. Rike, representing Oil and Gas Mr. Ronald M. Tipton, representing Industrial Minerals SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL STAFF OF THE DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ADMINISTRATION (614) 265-6988 Thomas M. Berg, MS, State Geologist and Division Chief Robert G. Van Horn, MS, Assistant State Geologist and Deputy Division Chief Dennis N. Hull, MS, Assistant State Geologist and Deputy Division Chief Michael C. Hansen, PhD, Senior Geologist, Ohio Geology Editor, and Geohazards Offi cer Janet H. Kramer, Fiscal Offi cer Billie Long, Fiscal Specialist Sharon L. Stone, AD, Executive Secretary BEDROCK GEOLOGY MAPPING GROUP (614) 265-6473 CARTOGRAPHY & EDITING GROUP (614) 265-6593 Edward Mac Swinford, MS, Geologist Supervisor Edward V. Kuehnle, BA, Cartographer Supervisor Glenn E. Larsen, MS, Geologist Merrianne Hackathorn, MS, Geologist and Editor Gregory A. Schumacher, MS, Geologist Ray O. Klingbeil, AD, Cartographer Douglas L. Shrake, MS, Geologist Robert L. Stewart, Cartographer Ernie R. Slucher, MS, Geologist Lisa Van Doren, BA, Cartographer ENVIRONMENTAL & SURFICIAL GEOLOGY GROUP (614) 265-6599 PETROLEUM GEOLOGY GROUP (614) 265-6598 Richard R. Pavey, MS, Geologist Supervisor Lawrence H. Wickstrom, MS, Geologist Supervisor C. Scott Brockman, MS, Geologist Mark T. Baranoski, MS, Geologist Kim E. Vorbau, BS, Geologist Michael R. Lester, BS, Data Systems Coordinator James McDonald, MS, Geologist LAKE ERIE GEOLOGY GROUP (419) 626-4296, Ronald A. Riley, MS, Geologist (419) 626-8767 (FAX) Joseph G. Wells, MS, Database Administrator Scudder D. Mackey, PhD, Geologist Supervisor Danielle A. Foye, BS, Geologist Jonathan A. Fuller, MS, Geologist INDUSTRIAL MINERALS GROUP (614) 265-6602 Donald E. Guy, Jr., MS, Senior Geologist Diane E. Honoshofsky, Secretary David A. Stith, MS, Geologist Supervisor Dale L. Liebenthal, Operations Offi cer & Research Vessel Operator Ronald G. Rea, MS, Geologist and Sample Repository Manager Richard M. Weekley, AD, Survey Technician COAL GEOLOGY GROUP (614) 265-6594 GEOLOGIC RECORDS CENTER (614) 265-6585 Douglas L. Crowell, MS, Geologist Supervisor Garry E. Yates, NZCS, Supervisor Richard W. Carlton, PhD, Senior Geologist Angelena M. Bailey, Administrative Assistant Mark E. Wolfe, BS, Geologist Madge R. Fitak, BS, Offi ce Assistant An Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/H recycled paper vi STATE OF OHIO George V. Voinovich, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Donald C. Anderson, Director DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas M. Berg, Chief GUIDEBOOK NO. 16 QUATERNARY GEOLOGY ALONG THE EASTERN MARGIN OF THE SCIOTO LOBE IN CENTRAL OIHO by Tod A. Frolking Department of Geology and Geography, Denison University and John P. Szabo Department of Geology, University of Akron Originally prepared for the 1998 North-Central Section meeting of the Geological Society of America Columbusi 1998 Composition and layout by Lisa Van Doren This guidebook has been edited by the Ohio Division of Geological Survey, but has not been reviewed for scientifi c content. The views and interpretations expressed are those of the authors. The Division of Geological Survey disclaims any re- sponsibility for interpretations and conclusions. Cover illustration: Mastodons along the ice margin. From a painting by James L. Glover, Ohio Department of Natural Resources. ii CONTENTS Page Preface ................................................................................................................................... v Part 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Overview of fi eld trip and early research in the area .................................................. 1 Regional bedrock stratigraphy and the modern terrain .............................................. 1 Paleodrainage history .................................................................................................... 2 Drainage diversions and reversals ............................................................................... 3 Middle and Late Pleistocene valley fi lls ....................................................................... 4 Overview of regional glacial history ............................................................................. 7 Changing till nomenclature .......................................................................................... 8 Wisconsinan tills ..................................................................................................... 8 Illinoian tills ........................................................................................................... 8 Illinoian glaciation in Licking County .......................................................................... 10 Regional Late Wisconsinan glacial chronology ............................................................ 10 Late Wisconsinan glaciation in eastern Franklin and Licking Counties ................... 10 Postglacial environmental change in Licking County ................................................. 12 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................... 12 Part 2: Road log ..................................................................................................................... 15 Leg 1, OSU Ohio Union to Rocky Fork exposure at Gahanna (Stop 1) ...................... 15 Leg 2, Rocky Fork to Mounts Farm exposures on Lobdell Creek (Stop 2) ................. 15 Leg 3, Mounts Farm to Wildwood Park/Granville well fi eld (Stop 3) ......................... 16 Leg 4, Wildwood Park to lower Dry Creek (Stop 4) ..................................................... 16 Leg 5, Dry Creek to OSU Newark campus (lunch stop) .............................................. 17 Leg 6, OSU Newark campus to Seven Hills Road exposure (Stop 5) .......................... 17 Leg 7, Seven Hills Road to Cartnal/Postle Rocky Fork exposure (Stop 6) .................. 18 Leg 8, Cartnal/Postle exposure to lower Brushy Fork and Black Hand Gorge (Stop 7) .................................................................................................................... 18 Leg 9, Black Hand Gorge to OSU Ohio Union ............................................................. 18 Part 3: Descriptions of stops ................................................................................................. 19 Stop 1, Rocky Fork exposure at Rocky Fork Hunt and Country Club in Gahanna ... 19 Historical overview ................................................................................................. 19 Section description and discussion ........................................................................ 19 Stop 2, Mounts Farm exposures along Lobdell Creek ................................................. 23 Description and discussion of Mounts Farm south section .................................. 24 Description and discussion of Mounts Farm north section .................................. 25 Interpretation of the glacial sequence ................................................................... 28 Stop 3, Wildwood Park/Granville well fi eld .................................................................. 28 Stop 4, Lower Dry Creek ............................................................................................... 30 Stop 5, Seven Hills Road exposure ............................................................................... 31 Stop 6, Cartnal/Postle cutbank exposure on Rocky Fork ............................................ 33 Typical terrace stratigraphy .................................................................................. 33 Interpretation of drainage history ......................................................................... 35 Stop 7, Upper Black Hand Gorge .................................................................................. 36 References cited .................................................................................................................... 38 FIGURES 1. Generalized Quaternary geology of the fi eld-trip area in east-central Ohio and stop locations .................................................................................................................. 2 2. Generalized geologic column for upper Devonian through lower Pennsylvanian rock units in central Ohio ............................................................................................... 3 3. Mean and standard deviation of fi ve highest bedrock and land-surface elevations .... 3 4. Modern and Deep Stage drainage patterns for east-central Ohio .............................. 4 5. Generalized bedrock and land-surface elevation models of south-central Licking County ..................................................................................................................... 5 6.