80 Recent Advances in Glacial Geology, Geomorphology, and Chronology

We invite papers on topics related to glacial systems, landforms, and chronology, especially work that has connections to (i) interpretations of past climates and/or (ii) surficial geology and resource extraction.

Monday, 20 October 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
HBGCC, 213AB

The Previously Undocumented (Barryton) Advance of the Lake Michigan Lobe in Central Lower Michigan

Paper number: 80-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM

Authors

Abstract

The general framework of the glacial history of Lower Michigan was established in the early 1900’s by the seminal work of Frank Leverett and Frank Taylor. Most subsequent work in the century-plus has focused on refining the glacial chronology and flowpaths, as well as government- and grant-funded, surficial mapping projects. However, few significant changes have since emerged regarding ice marginal positions at their terminal extents. We present new data on an advance of the Lake Michigan Lobe into central Lower Michigan, which we call the Barryton Advance. The Barryton Sublobe flowed east, off what was previously assumed to have been the terminal (upland) position of the Lake Michigan Lobe in the Cadillac Uplands, down and into the Houghton Lake Basin and neighboring lowlands. Large swaths of the landscape overrun by the Barryton Sublobe exhibit hummocky disintegration moraine, ice disintegration ridges, knob-and-kettle topography, channel swarms, and meltout drainage channels lacking head slopes. This distinctive landform assemblage suggests that large portions of the Barryton Sublobe ultimately stagnated and disintegrated in situ. Eskers and ice-marginal fans often align with the outermost extent of the advance. Drainage networks also change predictably at the former ice margin, and large, meltwater streams flowing off the Barryton Sublobe formed deltas in an early version of Glacial Lake Saginaw. Correlations to other, dated landforms suggest that the Barryton Advance occurred sometime between 24 and 21 ka. Blockage of the Muskegon River outlet to the nearby Houghton Lake Basin, by the Barryton Sublobe, must have persisted well past ≈18 ka.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-413828

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