Glacial Deposits and Earth's Glaciation Sediment Record - What is Normal?

Explore the complex world of glacial deposits and Earth's glaciation sediment record in this comprehensive 1 hour 26 minute lecture. Examine the contrasts between modern Alpine glacial landscapes and ancient glacial periods, such as the Cryogenian and Late Ordovician. Investigate the characteristics of diamictites, moraines, and drumlins, and learn why not all diamictites are necessarily glacial in origin. Compare the lack of glacially striated pavements in Cryogenian rocks with the abundance of subglacial erosion features in Late Ordovician and Late Carboniferous records. Discover how satellite data helps map palaeo-ice streams and reconstruct ice sheets. Analyze the unique characteristics of Late Ordovician glacial deposits, including predominant sandstone composition and soft-sediment shearing. Examine Late Carboniferous palaeo-fjord systems and their similarities to Pleistocene fjords. Challenge conventional thinking about glacial records and consider which glacial period, if any, truly represents Earth's glacial sedimentary record.

What do glacial deposits really look like & what is 'normal' in Earth’s glaciation sediment record?