Lateral moraines, ice-dammed lakes, and meltwater-carved channels in the Pelham, Shutesbury, Leverett area of west-central Massachusetts: A record of Connecticut Valley ice lobe retreat

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Abstract

Temporary ice-dammed glacial lakes formed high in the landscape in several westward sloping valleys on the east side of the Connecticut Valley lowland during late Wisconsinan deglaciation. These lakes were impounded by a lengthy lobe of ice that extended farther south in the lowland than at upland retreatal ice-margin positions (fig. 1). The formation, lowering, and drainage of these ice-dammed lakes successively preceded the extension of glacial Lake Hitchcock northward in the Deerfield Basin as the ice lobe retreated to the north of the Holyoke Range. Detailed surficial geologic mapping of the Shutesbury Quadrangle (Stone, J.R., 1978), along with regional compilation for the Surficial Materials Map of Massachusetts (Stone, J.R. and others, 2018), and ongoing compilation of the Quaternary Geologic Map of Massachusetts has established the extent of these lake deposits and locations of their meltwater- carved spillways. However, recently obtained Lidar-derived high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) images provide new evidence for mapping of previously unrecognized features not visible on traditional 1:24,000-scale, 10-ft contour interval topographic maps. The newly mapped features have less than 10 ft (3 m) of relief and are believed to be successive lateral moraines left behind by the west-northwesterly retreating Connecticut Valley ice lobe. On the Fieldtrip, we will examine deltaic deposits of ice-dammed glacial lakes in the valleys of Amethyst Brook in the town of Pelham and Roaring Brook in Shutesbury and Leverett, as well as their associated meltwater-carved spillways and feeding meltwater channels. Physical aspects of the low ridges interpreted as lateral moraines will be examined on the ground. Much of the landscape in Pelham, Shutesbury, and Leverett is forested, much is classified as open space, and there are many trails.

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Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Lateral moraines, ice-dammed lakes, and meltwater-carved channels in the Pelham, Shutesbury, Leverett area of west-central Massachusetts: A record of Connecticut Valley ice lobe retreat
Chapter B4
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference
Contributing office(s) Florence Bascom Geoscience Center
Description 20 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title Guidebook for field trips in Massachusetts and surrounding area
Conference Title New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference
Conference Date Sep 30-Oct 2, 2022
Country United States
State Massachusetts
City Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury
Other Geospatial Connecticut Valley
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