Basal Moraines: Communication 2. Identification and Some Concepts of Their Genetic Interpretation

Abstract

Common basal moraines display diverse glaciodynamic structures inherited from the parental moraine-containing ice. Since these glacial diamictons are marked by instable structure and composition, they can resemble sediments of another origin and their identification is a difficult task. We cannot make substantiated genetic conclusions based on certain lithological properties typical of glacial diamictons. Only a set of specific features can provide sufficiently reliable determination of their glacial nature. Other methodical approaches applied in different regions, the Barents Sea included, for the identification of glacial diamictons based on the highly superficial analysis of some (usually secondary) features lead to a biased genetic interpretation of moraines.