Differences between glacial and fluvioglacial deposits
Size
Glacial till deposits tend to be much coarser and larger than fluvioglacial deposits
Due to the energy required for transport
Shape
Glacial till is angular
where fluvioglacial
deposits are sub-rounded
to rounded because of the
process of attrition that can
occur as material is carried
by meltwater
Degree of sorting
Glacial till is a random mix of different sized deposits.
Fluvioglacial deposits are sorted, with the coarsest
deposits deposited first as loss of energy occurs
upon meltwater streams exiting snout of glacier
Finer material can be transported further as they
required less energy and are deposited further
from the snout
Stratification
Fluvioglacial till deposits are layered vertically due
to the seasonal nature of meltwater - glacial till
deposits are not.
Location
Fluvioglacial deposits
are usually found
beyond the limits of the
ice, whereas glacial
deposits never are.