Running Head: GEOLOGICAL FEATURE

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1 Running Head: GEOLOGICAL FEATURE Assignment #3: Hometown Geological Features Algonquin College Erin Blanchard Course: 14F_GEO7000_010 Geology and Landforms Instructor: Chris Melmoth Due Date: Wednesday December 10th, 2014 at 12:30PM

2 GEOLOGICAL FEATURES 3 Background Information 3 Geological Processes 5 Oak Ridges Moraine. 7 Elmvale Clay Plain. 9 Rocklands. 11 Community Relevance 13 Oak Ridges Moraine. 13 Elmvale Clay Plain. 14 Rocklands. 15 References 17!2

3 GEOLOGICAL FEATURES Background Information I live in Hockley Valley, Ontario which is situated in the County of Simcoe. Simcoe County has a variety of geological features that dot its landscape. The most well-known and identifiable feature is the Niagara Escarpment (Escarpment.org, n.d.). The following report will outline a variety of the geological features that are present in the area. These features will be discussed through an exploration of the history of Simcoe County and the natural features it has to offer. The County of Simcoe contains many specific geological or earth science features including the Oak Ridges Moraine, Innisfil Till Plain, Borden Sand Plain, Niagara Escarpment, Wasaga Lowlands, Elmvale Clay Plain, Tiny-Tay Peninsula, Oro Moraine, Rocklands, and the Carden Plain (Gartner, 1996). Simcoe County is also home to a variety of general geological features such as headwaters, wetlands, valleylands, major lakes, and large forested areas (Gartner, 1996). Simcoe County has been divided into ten major terrain units with each terrain unit representing a unique landform or geological condition; a terrain unit may contain more than one type of terrain, however, the dominant landform in each determines the name of the unit (Gartner, 1996). These different units have provoked unique histories, industries, and current ways of life. Gartner (1996, pp.9) says it best: The geologic setting of the area is the single-most important factor influencing the existing character of the County, since topography and soil have had a direct effect upon patterns of human settlement, the types of vegetation present, and the extent and location of certain land uses such as agriculture, aggregate extraction, and outdoor!3

4 recreational activities. Please refer to figures 1-2 for a visual depiction of Simcoe County s location and township-based division.! Figure 1. Simcoe County s location in Ontario. (Wikipedia, 2014).!4

5 Figure 2. Simcoe County s townships. (Gartner, 1996). I live in Adjala Tosorontio. Geological Processes The following map identifies the ten terrain units that Simcoe County is divided into. Soil type, physiography, and drainage patterns were used as the parameters for determining these ten units (Gartner, 1996).!5

6 Figure 3. Simcoe County 10 Terrain Units (Gartner, 1996).!6

7 I have decided to discuss three out of the ten terrain units in Simcoe County based on their relevance to me. I will discuss the Oak Ridges Moraine unit because this is where I live in Hockey Valley, the Elmvale Clay Plain because this unit contains my favourite natural feature of the county - the Minesing Swamp, and the Rocklands because I am interested to learn more about this area of my county. Oak Ridges Moraine. The Oak Ridges Moraine lies in the Southwest corner of Simcoe County; I live in the Oak Ridges Moraine terrain unit. The most notable feature of this unit is the kame moraine. Other features include its high permeability, sand and gravel deposits (glacier till), a ground water recharge zone, and a drainage divide feature between the Ontario and Simcoe Lake watersheds (Gartner, 1996). Furthermore, this area forms the headwaters for the Nottawasaga River which runs through my backyard, and contributes minimally to the Humber River system as well. The kame moraine was formed by receding glaciers during the last ice age (Pleistocene) approximately years ago (Thompson & Turk, 2007). A kame is a small mound or ridge of layered sediment deposited by a stream that flows on top of, within, or beneath a glacier (Thompson & Turk, 2007, pp. G10) and a moraine is a mound or ridge of till deposited directly by glacial ice (Thompson & Turk, 2007, pp. 337). Understandably, both the kame and moraine forming processes were present in the creation of this feature. As the North American glacier receded southward, a mound of till or sediment would have been deposited at the terminus of the glacier to form a moraine. Then, when the temperature was warm enough to melt the glacier, streams would have formed on its surface, expanding to its sides and flowing through!7

8 ! GEOLOGICAL FEATURE crevasses to run under the glacier as well. These streams would have added to the already deposited till feature (moraine) at the edge of the receding glacier (Thompson & Turk, 2007). Hence, a kame moraine was formed. It is assumed that rough sediment layers can be found in the kame moraine because the streams would have deposited their glacial sediment in layers (kame) unlike the moraine which is composed of unstratified or unsorted till. Figure 4. The Oak Ridges Moraine. The left corner of the kame moraine is located in the bottom left-hand corner of Simcoe County. (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 2007).!8

9 The Nottawasaga River runs through a u-shaped valley in this part of the county - Hockley Valley. This broad and rounded valley was carved out by the glacier as it receded southward the deposits stuck in the glacier would have scraped and scored the sides and bottom of the valley, eroding the soil and bedrock as it moved. Figure 5. The Nottawasaga River - my backyard. (Blanchard, 2012). Elmvale Clay Plain. The two main features of the Elmvale Clay Plain include the glaciolacustrine clay deposits that were formed under Lake Algonquin and the Minesing Swamp. This area is important due to its agricultural productions and its significance as part of the Nottawasaga River watershed (Gartner, 1996). As expected, these clay plains are an indirect outcome of glacier activity. Algonquin Lake once filled the Elmvale Clay Plain area. This lake received glacial meltwater that was carrying glaciolacustrine sediments. The lake may have received this sediment during its formation as a kettle lake (large piece of glacier breaks off, forms depression!9

! GEOLOGICAL FEATURE in earth, melts to form a lake) or through sediment carried into an already established lake by glacial meltwater streams and rivers.

10 ! GEOLOGICAL FEATURE in earth, melts to form a lake) or through sediment carried into an already established lake by glacial meltwater streams and rivers. The clay particles would be located in the suspended load of a stream; as the suspended load of a stream flows into the lake it eventually stops moving and the small clay and silt particles are able to fall to the bottom, dispersing over the entire lake (Virtual Soil Science, 2014). Some of the finer particles may not settle until winter time, when the water ceases moving completely. This process of settling can create unique clay layers on the lakebed (Virtual Soil Science, 2014). As the lake dried up over a long period of time, the Elmvale Clay Plains were revealed. Figure 6. An example of the layers found in glaciolacustrine soil. (Alberta Geological Survey, 2012). The Minesing Swamp became a swamp due to its low elevation and soil type. As the water from the Nottawasaga River watershed flowed Northward toward Georgian Bay it settled in low lying areas such as the Minesing Swamp. This swamp is a significant natural habitat and is able to retain water well due to its clay base. The Elmvale Clay Plain hosts several other!10

11 wetlands such as the Upper Marl Creek wetlands, Tiny Marsh, Balm Beach wetland, and Thunder Bay Swamp (Gartner, 1996) due to its ability to hold water well (very low permeability). The Wye River system also contributes the Minesing Swamp and in turn the swamp feeds many smaller creeks, other than the Nottawasaga, that drain into Georgian Bay (Gartner, 1996). A final important piece to note is that because of its size, the Minesing Swamp is considered to function as a flood storage area for spring melts and other flooding events. Rocklands. The Rocklands are made primarily from the Precambrian Canadian shield; both granite and gneiss outcrops dominate this terrain unit of Simcoe County (Gartner, 1996). Due to the exposed rock of this area the soil layer is very thin and therefore drainage is determined by the blueprint of the bedrock. The bedrock still allows for the formation of dry open woodlands (mixed) and swamps; much of this area is still ruled by its natural flora and fauna, with less human activity than other areas of the county. For example, it is home to one of the biggest and most significant cattail marshes of the county Matchedash Bay as well as multiple habitat corridors for wildlife (Gartner, 1996). This area is also important due to its water conveyance abilities the Black River/Head River, Matchedash River, and Matchedash Lake/Severn River Corridors all run through this region on their journey toward the central Ontario and Muskoka regions (Gartner, 1996). The Precambrian shield is the geological base of the North American continental plate it was formed 2.5 to 3.5 billion years ago due to high volcanic activity in the area; this activity formed mountains which have weathered and eroded over the course of millions and millions of years (Wikipedia, 2014). It is composed mostly of igneous rock and also of metamorphic rock.! 11

12 ! GEOLOGICAL FEATURE Physical weathering would have broken the mountain rocks into smaller fragments including gravel, sand, and slit. These materials were then eroded over billions of years by rain, running water, wind, gravity, and most predominantly glaciers. Sediment stuck in the glacier would scrape and scour the bedrock of the Canadian Shield as the glacier receded, taking pieces of the Canadian Shield with it. Furthermore, the streams running under and around the melting glacier would also help to carry shield sediments away. Figure 7. The Canadian Shield. Granite. Visible striations from the last glacier. (Berdan, n.d.).!12

13 Community Relevance Oak Ridges Moraine. The high permeability of this area allows many residents, including myself, to drink from shallow, water table wells. In addition, many springs can be found in the area to drink from. For example, we drive about 10 minutes to fill our water bottles from a spring that has been used for over a century by travelers and residents alike. It is overgrown, not well known, and absolutely delicious! The Oak Ridges Moraine has also provided the community with many recreational opportunities. For example, the Hockley Valley Resort offers downhill skiing in the winter season and part of the Bruce Trail runs through this area. On this section of the Bruce Trail (Hockley Valley) geology hikes are offered every spring in order to raise money for the Bruce Trail Conservancy (Bruce Trail Conservancy, 2013). As previously mentioned, this section of Simcoe County is known for its gravel and sand deposits (Cowan, 1976); the neighbouring town of Orangeville contains similar deposits in the form of limestone. The recent plans for a mega-quarry development caused an uproar in the environmental community. The Highland Companies proposed a mega-quarry of 937 hectares, with a proposed crater of more than 1 1/2 times the depth of Niagara Falls (CBC News, 2012). This quarry would be the second largest open pit mine in North America situated between Collingwood and Orangeville (Stop the Mega Quarry, n.d.). The rich farmland area that was bought by the Highland Companies and proposed for this development is a primary source for water recharge, feeding both the Nottawasaga and Grand Rivers, and affects the water source of over one million people (Stop the Mega Quarry, n.d.). Luckily, in November 2012 the plans for!13

14 the mega-quarry were finally halted - the STOP THE MEGA QUARRY movement had succeeded (CBC News, 2012). If the mega-quarry had of been mined it is likely that the Nottawasaga River running through my backyard would have either dried up or changed its composition by carrying more deposits, which would have affected the flora, fauna, and human populations negatively. In addition to this issue, our well probably would have dried up or become contaminated. We have already seen the river lower in volume after the establishment of a large golf course upstream from our property. Figure 8. The size of the Mega- Quarry compared to downtown Toronto. It would have covered 1/3 of the city. (CBC News, 2012). Elmvale Clay Plain. It is clear that this area offers us agricultural development and food production opportunities. The other piece this area offers us are multiple naturally significant wetlands that contain rare species of plants and animals as well as offer important habitat for a large variety of other flora and fauna. As the largest wetland in Simcoe County the Minesing Swamp Conservation Area contains great biodiversity and natural exploration opportunities for the community. Many canoeists and kayakers use this swamp for recreational activity. You can!14

actually boat all the way from Alliston, ON to Wasaga Beach, ON (Southern end to Northern end of County) by using the Nottawasaga River which travels through the Minesing Swamp.

15 actually boat all the way from Alliston, ON to Wasaga Beach, ON (Southern end to Northern end of County) by using the Nottawasaga River which travels through the Minesing Swamp. When we paddled the swamp we saw tree swallows, king birds, green herons, american bitterns, swans, b a l t i m o r e o r i o l e s, b e l t e d k i n g f i s h e r s, r o s e - b r e a s t e d grosbeaks, sandhill cranes, lesser yellow legs, and many types of waterfowl just to name a few. Figure 9. The Minesing Swamp flooded in early May (Blanchard, 2014). Rocklands. The Rocklands are an interesting terrain unit in Simcoe County because they offer a tough terrain for human establishments and development. That being said, this area is well known to many cottagers. Of all places in Simcoe County, this is probably the most untouched due to its tough terrain and large amounts of crown land. It is fantastic that our county has such a green space to be explored and respected by the people of Simcoe. The following three figures show the beauty of Awenda Provincial Park, a fantastic green space in the township of Severn.!15

16 ! GEOLOGICAL FEATURE Figure 10. Awenda Provincial Park. Niagara Bluffs that drop 60m into the southeastern corner of Georgian Bay. (Kuiper, n.d., from Cottage Life).!! Figure 11. Awenda Provincial Park. Niagara Bluffs Trail (left). Lake (right). (Awenda Provincial Park, ON, n.d.).!16

17 References Alberta Geological Survey. (2012). Surficial Mapping Photo Gallery. [Website]. Retrieved from Berdan, R. (n.d.). Canadian Nature Photographer: Photographing around Georgian Bay Ontario. [Website]. Retrieved from Bruce Trail Conservancy. (2013). Bruce Trail Geology Hikes: Geology 101 on Foot - Spring [Website]. Retrieved from CBC News. (2012, Nov. 21). Mega-Quarry in Southern Ontario won t be Built. [Website]. Retrieved from Cottage Life. (n.d.). Visit Awenda Provincial Park. [Website]. Retrieved from cottagelife.com/71577/entertaining/visit-awenda-provincial-park C o w a n, W. R. ( ). [ P D F D o c u m e n t ]. R e t r i e v e d f r o m h t t p : / / Escarpment.org. (n.d.). Ontario s Niagara Escarpment: A World Biosphere Reserve: Discover Ontario s Niagara Escarpment in Simcoe and Dufferin. [PDF Document]. Retrieved from w w w. e s c a r p m e n t. o r g / _ f i l e s / f i l e. p h p? fileid=filersxolqmnnd&filename=file_simcoe_dufferin_explorer.pdf Flickr. (n.d.). Awenda Provincial Park, ON. [Website]. Retrieved from photos/snuffy/sets/ / Gartner, L. (1996). Development of a Natural Heritage System for the County of Simcoe. [Website]. Retrieved from SimcoeNatHeritageStudy.pdf Headwaters Tourism. (2014). Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. [Website]. Retrieved from McNenly, K. (2014). It s all downhill from here! [Website]. Retrieved from

18 Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. (2007, April 17). Full Map of the Oak Ridges Moraine Area: Land use Designation Map. [Website]. Retrieved from Page1744.aspx Stop the Mega Quarry. (n.d.). Stop the Mega Quarry. [Website]. Retrieved from Virtual Soil Science, Soil Formation and Parent Material: Glacio-Lacustrine. [Website]. Retrieved from glacio-lacustrine Wikipedia. (2014). Canadian Shield. [Website]. Retrieved from Canadian_Shield#Geology!18

The Niagara Escarpment extends from western New York, through the GTA all the way up to Manitoulin Island and into Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Niagara Escarpment extends from western New York, through the GTA all the way up to Manitoulin Island and into Michigan and Wisconsin. is southern Ontario s most prominent topographic feature, extending more than 500 kilometres from western New York, through Niagara Falls and the western part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and north