Drainage Modifications and Glaciation in the Danbury Region Connecticut: State of Connecticut State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin No. 30Harvey, Ruth Sawyer
Science
Drainage Modifications and Glaciation in the Danbury Region Connecticut: State of Connecticut State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin No. 30
Harvey, Ruth Sawyer
Geology -- Connecticut; Glacial epoch
The heavy deposits of boulder clay forming the moraine which blocks
the Rocky River valley indicate the next halting place of the glacier.
In this period the ice margin formed an irregular northeast-southwest
line about a mile north of Danbury. The country west and south of
Danbury was thus uncovered, but the lower part of Still River valley
was either covered by the ice sheet or occupied by an ice lobe. The
drainage was, therefore, up the river valley, and being concentrated
along the valley sides resulted in the accumulation of sand and gravel
at the foot of rocky slopes. It is possible that an ice lobe extended
down the old Rocky River valley, perhaps occupying much of the country
between Beaver Brook Mountain and the high ridge west of the valley.
The streams issuing from this part of the ice front would have laid
down the eskers and kame gravels north of Danbury and the thick mantle
of drift over which Still River flows through the city. As would be
expected, this accumulation of material ponded all the north-flowing
streams--Umpog Creek, Beaver Brook, and smaller nameless ones--and at
the same time pushed Still River, at its mouth, to the southern side
of its valley. Beaver Brook valley, Umpog valley, and all the Danbury
basin must have been flooded during this period up to the height of
the "railroad divide." Within the area covered by the city, the valley
was filled up to at least 70 feet and probably much more than that
above its former level. Flowing at this higher level, the river was
thrown out of its course and here and there superimposed on hard
rock--as, for example, at Shelter Rock.
That part of the drainage coming down the valley opposite Beaver Brook
met the drainage from Still River ice lobe in the valley north of
Shelter Rock, and as a result heavy deposits of stratified drift were
laid down. The peninsula-like mass of drift beyond the river north of
Shelter Rock appears from its form to have been built up as the delta
of southward and eastward-flowing streams; probably the drainage from
the hilltops united with streams coming down the two valleys. The
lobes of stratified drift extending from the ridge may have been built
first, and later the connecting ridge of gravel which forms the top of
the hill may have accumulated as additional material was washed in,
tying together the ridges of gravel along their western ends. The
mingling in this region of stratified drift of all grades of
coarseness indicates the union in the same basin of debris gathered
from several sources.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account