Glacialmarine facies relations in the lower Androscoggin Valley, southwest Maine

• Main Authors: Retelle, Michael, Bither, Katherine M.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: SCARAB 1989
• Subjects: Tidewater
• Online Access: https://scarab.bates.edu/faculty_publications/60; https://scarab.bates.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1055&context=faculty_publications

A facies model is proposed for late Wisconsinan glaciomarine deposits in the lower Androscoggin Valley that includes for lithofacies assemblages that are defined by morphology and detailed stratigraphic and sedimentologic analysis. The end moraine facies assemblage includes subglacial and resedimented diamicton, and interbedded and locally deformed sand and gravel beds. The sediments from linear ridges which are former grounding line positions of the tidewater glacier margin. The submarine outwash fan facies assemblage commonly drapes or flanks the end moraine assemblage. In proximal regions of the fan, gravel, bedded sand, and diamicton lithofacies predominate and represent rapid deposition at the mouth of the meltwater tunnel by fluvial and mass flow processes. Distal and lateral to the ice margin, fan sediments consist of graded and cross-laminated sands deposited from suspension. The shallow marine facies assemblage consists of well-sorted tidal to subtidal sand lithofacies, poorly sorted gravelly and bouldery lad deposits on moraine crests, and lagoonal muds. Collectively, these lithofacies were deposited as a result of reworking previously deposited sediments during isostatic emergence.