Lithology and general stratigraphy of Quaternary sediments in a section of the Teays River Valley of southern Ohio

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Three transects were conducted across the main channel of the abandoned Teays River valley in Pike, Jackson, and Scioto Counties, Ohio, to evaluate the lithology and general stratigraphy of valley-fill deposits. Field observations obtained from both deep borings and surface excavations indicate that much of the Pleistocene lacustrine fill has been removed and that the modern landscape reflects primarily a sequence of erosional and secondary fill surfaces. Thus, the current valley fill includes lacustrine clays and channel sands, as well as younger sediments of varied origin. A general sequence of three sedimentary stratigraphic units was commonly encountered in the transects. A silty surface unit overlay an intermediate deposit, which in turn, rested on channel sands or on highly laminated lacustrine materials that were equated with the Minford Clay Member of the Teays Formation. The silty surface unit occurred at almost all sites to a depth of 50 to 60 cm. The mineralogy was mixed, and clay-free particle-size profiles indicated the material was loessial in origin. The intermediate deposit was also encountered in most borings and could be classified as colluvial, alluvial or lacustrine depending on the location. The lithology of this deposit was highly variable and frequently reflected the properties of local bedrock units. Minford Clay was distinguished from younger lacustrine sediments of the intermediate unit on the basis of higher clay content, more micaceous mineralogy, and an elemental Zr content that was two to four times less. Discriminant statistical analyses of data from a total of 180 samples indicated that the Minford Clay could also be easily distinguished from all other Quaternary sediments in the Teays Valley on the basis of selected chemical attributes. By using the same parameters, however, lacustrine deposits in overlying stratigraphic units could not be clearly separated from associated colluvium, alluvium, and loess.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: