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Desert Aeolian Processes pp 199–217Cite as

Alterations of Ventifact Surfaces at the Glacier/Desert Interface

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Abstract

Ventifacts are found on many glacial moraines in drylands, where aeolian abrasion is currently absent. This paper examines new methods for studying fossil ventifacts through surficial alteration. These include the development of rock coatings, thickening of weathering rinds, and the buildup of cosmogenic nuclides. Three areas are chosen to examine surficial alteration on fossil ventifacts: Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and Bishop Creek and Mono Basin in the eastern Sierra Nevada, California. Cosmogenic nuclides are valuable tools in fossil ventifact studies in that they provide a maximum-possible age for the ventifact by indicating the age of the glacial deposit. However, they cannot be used to indicate when the abrasion took place. In contrast, cation-ratio dating of rock varnish, layering of rock varnish, and the development of weathering rinds on ventifacted boulders provide data on when abrasion occurred. Ventifacts at Bishop Creek and Mauna Kea formed during glacial periods. Aeolian abrasion and subsequent boulder-surface alteration are rarely considered by glacial geomorphologists who use relative dating methods to assess the ages of glacial deposits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Arizona State University, USA

    Ronald I. Dorn

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  1. Ronald I. Dorn
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, 77843, College Station, TX, USA

    Vatche P. Tchakerian

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© 1995 Vatche P. Tachakerian

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Dorn, R.I. (1995). Alterations of Ventifact Surfaces at the Glacier/Desert Interface. In: Tchakerian, V.P. (eds) Desert Aeolian Processes. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0067-7_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0067-7_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6519-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0067-7

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