Question

Which of the following best distinguishes glacial till from water-laid glacial sediments?

• A. It is layered and stratified due to flowing meltwater.
• B. It is composed of uniformly sized, rounded particles.
• C. It is an unsorted mix of materials deposited directly by ice.
• D. $It forms only in glacial lakes through sediment settling.$

Answer 1

Answer:

C. It is an unsorted mix of materials deposited directly by ice.

Glacial Till Characteristics

• Unsorted Nature: Glacial till consists of a chaotic, heterogeneous mixture of sediments ranging from microscopic clay particles to massive boulders, known as erratics.

• Direct Deposition: This material is deposited directly by melting glacial ice without the intervention of water, resulting in the absence of stratification or layering.

• Angular Fragments: Because the sediment is transported while frozen within or beneath the ice, individual clasts often exhibit angular or sub-angular shapes rather than the rounded edges typical of water-transported materials.