16 Mile Pond Island Support System
I have visited this wonderful island twice and believe it to be deserving of another wonderful Earthcache/lesson. I hope you enjoy it.
The soil in the area of Sixteen Mile Creek and its associated pond/lagoon in Canada, specifically near the Niagara Peninsula and Milton, Ontario, is diverse due to its complex sedimentary history influenced by glaciers and historical lakes and streams.
Specifically within the Sixteen Mile Creek lagoon and its environs, you can find the following soil types:
• Pink Silt: Found at the base of the lagoon's sediment layers, it's a poorly sorted, sandy clay silt similar to overbank (flood plain - marsh) environments. It has a distinctive pink color likely derived from the Queenston Formation and/or Halton Till.
• Bottom Sand: Associated with stream channels and beaches.
• Orange Sandy Silt: Present only in the marsh, appearing as a buried soil horizon.
• Gyttja: A brown, organic-rich silty clay, likely deposited in a shallow, stagnant lagoon environment.
• Brown and Grey Clay: Found in the open-water lagoon areas.
• Gray Clay: Covers the present bottom of the lagoons and also occurs in the marsh, interlayered with sand in the channels.
In the broader surrounding area, particularly the Lake Iroquois Plain, there's significant diversity:
• Sandy Silt: Found in the marsh, possibly a buried soil horizon.
• Sedimentary Soils: Deposited by glaciers and historic lakes and streams, these soils are laid over the Queenston Shale formation.
• Well-Drained Lighter Soils: Found in long, narrow bands along streams flowing through the dissected landscape. These are good for grape-growing.
• Loamy Soils: Thick, porous patches scattered amongst the lighter soils, allowing for deep root penetration by vines.
• Red, Yellow, and Olive Clays: Strikingly colored soils found in the southern part of the area, where vineyards are most prevalent.
Furthermore, the Halton Till underlies the lagoon sediments.
The overall stratigraphy of the Sixteen Mile Creek lagoon reflects a sequence of surficial environments that have evolved over the last 4200 years due to factors like isostatic rebound and land clearing. This has resulted in the deposition of different types of sediments in the lagoon over time.
QUESTIONS: (Send email or geo messaging services)
1. What type(s) of soil from the types above do you believe specifically make up this island? (It is not all of them)
2. What is the largest size rock, stone or boulder you see while on the island? Describe it or measure the length.
3. There are many large trees on this island. Do you believe the trees along with the soil composition are deterring this island from rapidly eroding or do you think it is making it erode faster rather than an island of bedrock?
4. Can you see different soil composition from the cliffs and exosed layers around the island? Describe what you see.
5. Post a photo of you, your gps or a personal item at the island.
Happy Floating! Thanks for visiting.