Date of Award
8-8-2017
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Geosciences
First Advisor
Katie Price
Second Advisor
Daniel Deocampo
Third Advisor
David Leigh
Abstract
Stream capture is a major driver of the retreat of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, but timescales of capture are not well understood. This study examines stream sediment geochemistry to establish a set of sediment source fingerprints which can be used to identify and date the capture of the Tallulah River. Statistical analyses show significant differences in U, Th, and certain REE enrichment. These differences result from variations in bedrock along the lengths of each river and a shift in relative stream powers after capture to favor mobilization or deposition of heavy elements. The observed differences should be sufficient to identify where Tallulah sediment appears in floodplains of the capturing Tugaloo River, facilitating future dating of the capture event. Understanding the timing of river capture will provide insight into the ongoing reshaping and redistribution of river systems and interactions of geomorphic processes in the continuing evolution of the southern Appalachian Mountains.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/10461532
Recommended Citation
DuBose, David, "Geochemical Signatures of Stream Capture in the Retreating Blue Ridge Escarpment, Southern Appalachian Mountains." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2017.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/10461532