Glacial sediment characteristics

Sedimentological characteristics indicative of a glacial origin when observed in South Australian diamictites (from Coats and Preiss, 1987):

  • Presence of dropstones in associated laminites, indicating ice rafting

  • Presence of polished, facetted, striated and grooved clasts

  • Variable clast lithology, with certain lithologies persisting over large areas

  • Distinctive facies that recur in variable successions

  • Wide range of grainsize, including boulders

  • Very poor sorting