| Director: |
Henry Loope |
| Other Researchers: |
Deborah DeChurch,
Barbara Hill,
William Monaghan,
Drew Packman
|
| Funding: |
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) - Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Coalition
|
| Issue: |
This project stems from a need in Indiana to revisit the litho- and chronostratigraphic framework for Quaternary sediments described by Wayne (1963) and to build on the glacial terrain and sequence approach (Brown and Fleming, 2003) near the maximum limit of Wisconsin glaciation. Developing this framework is important for evaluating groundwater resources in Wisconsinan-age glacial sediments. |
| Objective: |
The goal is to document the chronology and stratigraphy of late Wisconsinan tills in south-central Indiana. |
| Approach: |
Both outcrops and cores will be used to collect chronologic and stratigraphic data. The project will use radiocarbon dating of macrofossils and gastropods, as well as optically stimulated luminescence dating of quartz sand. Hollow stem augering (split-spoon samping) will be used to collect continuous core.These data will be integrated into boreholes already collected from prior mapping efforts in south-central Indiana from the STATEMAP and Coalition programs. |
| Products: |
An IGS Open File Report containing data (e.g., radiocarbon ages, OSL ages, particle size, clay mineralogy) of the outcrops and cores collected will be produced in 2016/2017. The data will subsequently be incorporated into a manuscript for journal publication. |
| Benefits: |
Enhances our understanding of the glacial stratigraphy of south-central Indiana. Glacial stratigraphic data can be used to evaluate groundwater resources (quantity and quality) in an area with a growing population and associated industry. |
