Kelly Otto, “Atlas of Sedimentary and Deformation Structures Contained in Glacigenic and Sediment Gravity Flow Deposits”
Mentor: John Isbell, Geosciences, Letters & Science (College of)
Poster #130
Sedimentary structures preserve critical information about Earth’s environmental history, yet existing reference atlases fail to comprehensively document features related to glacigenic and sediment gravity flow deposits. These structures are vital for interpreting glacial activity, mass transport processes, and past climate transitions on both Earth and Mars. This research aims to bridge that gap by developing a detailed atlas that catalogs and interprets these overlooked sedimentary structures. To construct this atlas, fieldwork was conducted in Argentina to document glacigenic and sediment gravity flow deposits in situ. Extensive sedimentary structure samples from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s collection, including hand samples, cores, and local exposures in Wisconsin, were analyzed. High-resolution imaging techniques, including SLR photography, were employed to enhance visualization and interpretation. Preliminary results demonstrate a diverse array of primary sedimentary structures (bedding, cross-bedding, graded bedding, and ripple marks), deformation features (soft-sediment deformation, convolute bedding, and shear planes), and sediment gravity flow deposits (turbidites and debris flows). These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of depositional processes in glacial and mass transport environments. This atlas will serve as a reference for sedimentary geologists, educators, and researchers by providing high-quality images and descriptions of these structures. It also has implications for planetary geology, aiding in the identification of similar features and terrestrial processes on Mars. This atlas will serve as a resource that enhances the ability to interpret past glaciations and sediment transport processes, reinforcing the significance of sedimentology in reconstructing Earth’s geologic history and its systems’ response to environmental change.