An investigation of subglacial processes at the microscale from Briksdalsbreen, Norway

Hart, Jane K. (2006) An investigation of subglacial processes at the microscale from Briksdalsbreen, Norway. Sedimentology, 53 (1), 125-146. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.2005.00758.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The subglacial processes at Briksdalsbreen, Norway, are examined by a combination of sedimentology, thin section and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of till samples from an exposed subglacial surface and from beneath the glacier. Studies of a fluted surface indicate that subglacial deformation is occurring on a field scale with flutes forming behind most clasts 0Æ6 m high. At the thin section scale (0Æ014–2Æ0 mm) it is seen that deformation is by rotation and attenuation and is dependent on till texture. At the SEM scale (0Æ1–0Æ4 mm) it is seen that erosion is controlled by abrasion and percussion which produces distinct grain ‘styles’ as part of an erosional continuum. Overall it is shown that rotation and attenuation is a dominant process at all scales and that the clast interactions associated with different scale perturbations within the shear zone control erosion and deposition, as well as landform and fabric production.

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Published date: February 2006

Additional Information: This is the first paper to use both SEM and thin section analysis to investigate subglacial processes on the microscale from a modern glacier. This allows the integration of depositional processes (from the thin-section) and erosional processes (from the SEM) to understand the nature of the subglacial environment.

Keywords: flutes, micromorphology, scanning electron microscopy, tillsedimentology.