GEOSCIENCE ATLAS:
Surficial Landforms
Help File

CONTENTS:

Introduction
Methods
Map Legend
Database Attributes
     Table 1. Attributes for detailed point landforms.
     Table 2. Attributes for detailed linear landforms.
     Table 3. Attributes for regional point landforms.
     Table 4. Attributes for regional linear landforms.
Disclaimer
Recommended Citation 
References
Contact

INTRODUCTION

Surficial maps provide data on the types of material and landforms found at the surface. These maps are largely derived from aerial photographic interpretation with a variable amount of field checking. On some individual paper or pdf maps a reliability diagram is attached which outlines the amount of field checking. Regional and detailed surficial geology maps provide information on the types of material and 'area landforms' found at the surface. This help file describes the linear and point landforms, such as delta, kettle holes and roche moutonnee. Note that striations and radiocarbon dates are provided as separate layers.

Over 150 1:50,000 NTS map sheets have been mapped (as of 2021) for the detailed point and linear landforms: three/quarters in Newfoundland and one-quarter in Labrador. Click on the Legend icon in the upper right of the Geoscience Atlas to display the legend information for these layers or see the Legend below.

METHODS

Aerial photographs are interpreted with a variable amount of ground verification in the field. The interpretations are transferred to a sepia base, reviewed and revised as necessary. The final version is then transferred to a blank mylar sheet which is registered to a topographic basemap. The final mylar with the point and line work is scanned and then digitized. Symbols are checked for accuracy and any conflicts are identified and resolved, commonly by further aerial photographic interpretation.

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MAP LEGEND

Symbol

Landform

Description

Avalanche Track

Scar left on hillside showing route of avalanche

Beach Ridge

A continuous ridge of beach material, usually oriented perpendicular to the coast produced by wave action. Ridges may occur singly or as a series of parallel deposits

Cirque

A steep bowl-shaped hollow in a mountain caused by glacial erosion

Crag-and-Tail Hill

Streamlined hill or ridge with till deposited on down-ice (i.e., direction glacier is moving) side of bedrock crag

Delta

A deposit of sediment formed at the mouth of a river either in the ocean or a lake

Drumlin (direction known, unkown)

A streamlined spoon-shaped ridge composed mostly or entirely of till. The long axis parallels the direction of glacial flow, and blunt end of the ridge faces up-ice (i.e., from where the glacier originated)

Escarpment

Edge of marine and fluvial terrace

Esker (direction known, unknown)

A long, sinuous ridge of sand and gravel formed by glacial meltwater

Flute

A streamlined ridge formed mostly or entirely of till with long axis parallel to the direction of ice flow

Kettle Hole (small, large)

A steep-sided depression (commonly water filled) created by the melting of a detached piece of glacial ice that had been buried by glacial outwash

Meltwater Channel (small with direction known, large )

Channels created by water from melting glaciers

 

Moraine Ridge
- major

- minor

An accumulation of glacial debris deposited by a glacier. Moraines may form beneath the ice or on the margins. Moraines are generally parallel (e.g., flute, drumlin, crag-and-tail hill) or perpendicular to ice flow

Observation Site

Site of data collection

Roche Moutonnee

Glacially eroded streamlined bedrock

Sand Dunes

Wind-derived mounds or ridges composed predominantly of sand

Sink Hole (small, large)

A natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes(the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks)

 

Till Ramp

A streamlined hill or ridge with till deposited on up-ice side of bedrock crag



Landforms, such as sink holes, may be displayed in both the point and the line landform layer.  The point landforms are smaller and the 'linear' landforms are larger.

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DATABASE ATTRIBUTES


Table 1.  Database attributes for detailed mapping of point
landforms such as delta, drumlin or sink hole.

SURFICIAL LANDFORMS - DETAILED POINTS

Variable

Description

NTS_Map

NTS map sheet in which the landform occurs

Feature

Landform feature

Angle

Azimuth of directional landform such as roche moutonnee or delta

Long_NAD27

Longitude coordinate based on datum NAD27

Lat_NAD27

Latitude coordinate based on datum NAD27




Table 2.  Database Attributes for detailed mapping of linear landforms
such as avalanche tracks, meltwater channels or moraine ridges. 

SURFICIAL  LANDFORMS - LINES

Variable

Description

NTS_Map

NTS map sheet in which the landform occurs

Feature

Landform feature




Table 3.  Database attributes for regionally mapped (Labrador only)
point landforms such as delta, drumlin or sink hole. 

SURFICIAL LANDFORMS - REGIONAL POINTS

Variable

Description

NTS_Map

NTS map sheet in which the landform occurs

Feature

Landform feature

Angle

Azimuth of directional landform such as roche moutonnee or delta

Long_NAD27

Longitude coordinate based on datum NAD27

Lat_NAD27

Latitude coordinate based on datum NAD27

Source

Institutional source of data

Reference

Full source from which sample information was obtained

Comments

Any additional comments




Table 4.  Database attributes for regionally mapped (Labrador only)
linear landforms such as drumlin and eskers.

SURFICIAL LANDFORMS - REGIONAL POINTS

Variable

Description

NTS_Map

NTS map sheet in which the landform occurs

Feature

Landform feature

Length_m

Length of feature in metres

Source

Institutional source of data

Reference

Full source from which sample information was obtained



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DISCLAIMER

The Geological Survey, a division of the Mining and Mineral Development Branch, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (the "authors and publishers"), retains the sole right to its original data. The authors and publishers assume no legal liability or responsibility for any alterations, changes or misrepresentations made by third parties with respect to these products or the original data. Furthermore, the Geological Survey assumes no liability with respect to digital reproductions or copies of original products or for derivative products made by third parties. Please consult with the Geological Survey in order to ensure originality and correctness of data and/or products.

Note:
Open file reports, maps and digital data issued by the Geological Survey Division, Mining and Mineral Development Branch, Government of the Newfoundland and Labrador, are made available for public use without being formally edited or peer reviewed.  They are based upon preliminary data and evaluation.  The user agrees not to provide a digital reproduction or copy of this product to a third party.  Derivative products should acknowledge the source of the data (refer to the appropriate Index below).


RECOMMENDED CITATION
(example for downloaded database of the detailed Surficial Landform Points 50k )

Newfoundland and Labrador Geological Survey. "Surficial Landforms - Points." Newfoundland and Labrador GeoScience Atlas OnLine. Last update: [check the What's New file]. https://geoatlas.gov.nl.ca/Default.htm . [fill in date downloaded].

The original source should be referenced wherever possible. Please refer to the Newfoundland or Labrador Surficial Geology and Aggregate Maps Index or the Geofiles search links below, to search for the pertinent reports.

REFERENCE/SOURCES

Most reports are published by the Geological Survey Division, Mining and Mineral Development Branch, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.  Fulton et al. (1975) report is published by the Geological Survey of Canada.  More recent publications and maps are available on-line as pdf files (see links to pdfs in References below). 

The open files can also be searched through a Geofiles search or through links to the Newfoundland and Labrador Index maps:  

Link to Index of Surficial Geology for Newfoundland and Labrador



Batterson, M.J.

1991; Till geochemistry of Strange Lake area, Labrador. Geological Survey Branch, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Mines and Energy, Map 91-063 to Map 91-083, Open File LAB/0843, scale 1:50 000. 

 

Batterson, M.J., and Taylor, D.M.

2001: Till geochemistry of the Bonavista Peninsula area, Newfoundland. Newfoundland and Labrador Geological Survey, NFLD/2734, 100 pages.

2003: Till geochemistry of the western Avalon Peninsula and Isthmus. Newfoundland Department of Mines and Energy, Geological Survey, Open File NFLD/2824, 169 pages. (pdf - 18.5mb)  

2004: Till geochemistry of the central Avalon and Bay de Verde peninsulas, Newfoundland (NTS map sheets 1N/5, 1N/6, 1N/11, 1N/12. 1N/14, 2C/2 and 2C/3). Geological Survey, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, St. John's. Open File NFLD/2869, 189 pages. (pdf - 15.6mb)

2004: Till geochemistry of the Melody and Moran Lake areas, Central Mineral Belt, Labrador (NTS map sheets 13J/12, 13K/7, 13K/9, 13K/10). Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File LAB/1392, 303 pages. (pdf - 12.8mb)

2005: Till geochemistry of the Letitia Lake area, central Labrador (NTS map sheets 13L/1 and 13L/8). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File 013L/0121, 93 pages. (pdf - 8mb)

2005: PGE results from selected samples along the southern shore of Conception Bay, Avalon Peninsula (NTS map sheets 1N/6 and 1N/7). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File 001N/0757, 9 pages. (pdf - 1mb)

2006: Till geochemistry of the northern Burin Peninsula and adjacent areas, Newfoundland (NTS map areas 1M/7, 1M/8, 1M/9, 1M/10, 1M/15 and 1M/16). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File 001M/0573, 145 pages. (pdf - 13.88mb)

2009: Till geochemistry of the Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland (NTS map areas 1L/13, 1L/14, 1M/2, 1M/3, 1M/4, 1M/6, 1M/7, 1M/10 and 1M/11). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File NFLD/3043, 155 pages. (pdf - 15mb)

2009: Till geochemistry of the Cape St. Mary's Peninsula, southeastern Newfoundland (NTS map areas 1K/13, 1L/16, 1M/1, 1N/3 and 1N/4). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File NFLD/3026, 119 pages. (pdf - 20.26mb)

2009: Geochemical re-analysis of till samples from the Strange Lake area, Labrador [NTS map sheets 14D/5 and 24A/8]. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey Division, Open File LAB/1479,122 pages. (pdf - 26.2mb)

Batterson, M.J., Taylor, D.M. and Davenport, P.H.

1998: Till geochemistry survey of the Grand Falls - Mount Peyton area (NTS 2D/13, 2D/14 and part of 2E/04). Government of Newfoundland and , Department of Mines and Energy, Geological Survey, Open File NFLD/2664, [Map 98-09 to 98-55], 155 pages.


Batterson, M.J., Taylor, D.M. and Sheppard K.

2001: Till geochemistry, Gander map area (2D/15), central Newfoundland. Newfoundland and Labrador Geological Survey, Open File 002D/15/0398, 60 pages. 
 

Davenport, P.H., Honarvar, P., Hogan, A., Kilfoil, G. J., King D., Nolan L., Ash J. S., Colman-Sadd, S. P., Hayes, J. P., Liverman, D. G. E., Kerr, A. and Evans, D. T. W.

1996: Digital Geoscience Atlas of the Buchans-Robert's Arm Belt, Newfoundland.  Newfoundland Department of Mines and Energy, Geological Survey, Open File NFLD/2611, version 1.0 (in CD format). 


Fulton, R.J, Hodgson, D.A. and Minning, G.V.

1975: Inventory of Quaternary Geology, Southern Labrador: an example of quaternary geology – terrain studies in undeveloped areas. Geological Survey of Canada Paper 74-46. (pdf - 5.2mb)


Liverman, D. G. E.

2004: Analysis of selected till samples from the Hollinger and Cavers Lake map sheets (NTS 23J/9 and 23J/16) for platinum group elements. Geological Survey, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, St. John's. Open File 023J/0332, 14 pages. (pdf - 1.5mb) 


Liverman, D.G.E., Boger, R.A. Honarvar, P. and Vatcher, H.

1993: Till geochemistry, Cavers Lake and Hollinger Lake areas (NTS 23J/9 and 16), western Labrador. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Mines and Energy, Geological Survey Branch, Open File 023J/0303, 72 pages.

Liverman, D.G.E., Honarvar, P., Hayes, J., Ash, S. and Colman-Sadd, S.

1995: Till Geochemistry, Robert's Arm, Little Bay Island, and Springdale areas (NTS 2E/5, 2E/12 and 12H/8). Geological Survey, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Open File NFLD/2513, 58 pages.

 

Liverman D.G.E., Klassen R.A., Davenport P.H. and Honarvar, P.

1996: Till Geochemistry, Buchans-Roberts Arm Belt (NTS 2E/ 5, 2E/12, 12A/15, 12A/16, 12H/1 and 12H/8). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File NFLD/2596, 26 pages.

 

Liverman D.G.E., Taylor, D.M., and Sheppard K.

2000: Till geochemistry, Hodges Hill area, central Newfoundland. Newfoundland and Labrador Geological Survey, Open File NFLD/2704, 210 pages.

 

Liverman D.G.E., Scott, S. and Sheppard, K.

2001: Till geochemistry, Gander River – Comfort Cove / Newstead area (2E/3 and 2E/7), central Newfoundland. Newfoundland and Labrador Geological Survey, Open File 002E/1162, 80 pages. 
 

McCuaig, S.

2002: Till geochemistry of the Alexis River region (NTS map areas 13A/10, 14 and 15), Labrador. Newfoundland and Labrador Geological Survey, Open File 013A/0046, 107 pages.

2003: Till geochemistry of the White Bay area. Newfoundland Department of Mines and Energy, Geological Survey, Open File NFLD/2823, 51 pages plus appendices and figures. (pdf - 3mb)  

McCuaig, S.J., Taylor, D.M. and Sparkes, B.G.

2004: Till geochemistry of the La Poile River area (NTS map areas 11O/9, 11O/16, 11P/13 and 12A/4). Geological Survey, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, St. John's. Open File NFLD/2871, 168 pages plus 34 page-size maps. (pdf - 5.36mb)  


McCuaig, S.J. and Taylor, D.M.

2005: Till geochemistry of the Snegamook Lake area (NTS map sheets 13K/3, 13K/6, 13K/11). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File 013K/0283, 134 pages. (pdf - 7mb)   


McCuaig, S.J., Liverman, D.G.E. and Taylor, D.M.

2006: Till geochemistry of the Glover Group, western Newfoundland (NTS map areas 12A/12 and 12A/13). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File 012A/1209, 84 pages. (pdf - 12.28mb)


Smith, J.S., Batterson, M.J. and Taylor, D. M.

2009: Till geochemistry of the south side of the Red Indian Lake basin [NTS map sheets 12A/6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15 and 16]. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey, Open File 12A/1449 , 152 pages. (pdf - 46.5mb)

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CONTACT

Dave Taylor
Project Geologist
Terrain Sciences and Geoscience Data Section
Geological Survey Division, Mining and Mineral Development Branch
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 8700, St. John's, NL, Canada  A1B 4J6

phone: (709) 729-5624       
Email: DaveTaylor@gov.nl.ca

General Email: GeoscienceOnline@gov.nl.ca


(Help File updated: June 2021)
(Database last updated: check the What's New file)

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