Ice-wedge Ice, Mackenzie Delta-Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula Area, N.W.T., Canada

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Gell, W. Alan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1978
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Canada; Mackenzie Delta; Tuktoyaktuk; Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020955; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000020955

Abstract Petrologic analysis was performed on ice-wedge ice in order to investigate changes in fabric across wedges in relation to the growth mechanism. Crystal size increased from the centre outward and strongly preferred dimensional orientations developed parallel to the sides of wedges. c -axis orientations changed from a horizontal girdle at the wedge centre to a point maximum normal to the foliation at the boundary. These changes are related to recrystallization and grain growth associated with the horizontal stress field. In massive ice penetrated by an ice wedge, crystal size and complexity of crystal shape decreased toward the wedge, dimensional orientations tended to become parallel to the wedge, and c -axes formed a point maximum normal to the wedge boundary.