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Chapter 17: Problem 11

Differentiate between two forms of glacial drift—till and outwash.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Till and outwash are forms of glacial drift. Till, also called boulder clay, is directly deposited by ice and is composed of a mix of unsorted rocks of different sizes. Conversely, outwash is deposited by meltwater and is sorted by size, leading to layered deposits.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Glacial Drift

In general terms, glacial drift is the term for all material transported and deposited by a glacier. It includes all sizes of sediment from large boulders to minute particles.
02

Definition and Characteristics of Till

Till, also known as boulder clay, is unsorted glacial sediment. It is deposited directly by ice, and it consists of a mixture of different types of rock and rock fragments that vary in size from large boulders to fine particles.
03

Definition and Characteristics of Outwash

Outwash, on the other hand, refers to sediment deposited by glacial meltwater. It's typically well-sorted as the running water separates the particles by size, allowing the heavier, larger ones to settle first, followed by the lighter, smaller fragments. This action results in stratified (layered) deposits.
04

Summarizing the Differences

In summary, the primary difference between the two lies in their formation and composition. Till is directly deposited by ice and is unsorted with various kinds of rocks and rock fragments. Outwash, on the other hand, is deposited by meltwater and is sorted, yielding stratified deposits.

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