Geological Society of America

9 Undergraduate Research (Posters)

Monday, 10 March 2025
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Lower Level Lobby

GLACIAL ERRATICS FROM THE SHAWANGUNK FORMATION OF NEW YORK STATE: UTILIZING LITHOLOGY TO IDENTIFY SOURCE PROVENANCE AND RECONSTRUCT SURFICIAL GEOLOGY OF THE WISCONSIN GLACIATION IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY

Paper number: 9-11
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Authors

Michael M. Ryan Presenting Author
Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL
Conner Shillcock
William Paterson University of New Jersey, Wayne, NJ
Conner W. Bapst
Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL
Harry M. Maisch
Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL
Martin A. Becker
William Paterson University of New Jersey, Wayne, NJ

Abstract

Glacial erratics belonging to the Shawangunk Formation from the Catskill Region in the Hudson Valley of New York occur scattered throughout most counties in northern New Jersey. These glacial erratics range in size from a few centimeters to several meters in diameter and consist of well-rounded, milky quartz pebble conglomerates that are conspicuous geomorphological features relative to the local bedrock. The occurrence of crossbedding and imbrication, chevron-shaped deformation structures, detrital zircon crystals, sulfide minerals, and rare rose quartz and albite feldspar clasts further reinforce the known source provenance of these erratics. The unique lithology of these erratics traces the bedrock source provenance to the Shawangunk Formation in New York that is as much as 150 km from the terminal moraine in northern New Jersey. The distribution of these Shawangunk Formation glacial erratics can be utilized to interpret the primary direction of ice movement and glacial transport during the Wisconsin Glaciation throughout the region. Moreover, these erratics further our understanding of glacial erosion and deposition on the surficial geology across northern New Jersey.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025SC-407105

© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.