Northern Rocky Mountains

The US Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM) were extensively glaciated during the Pleistocene (Reference LockeLocke, 1990). Although only a few remnant alpine glaciers remain, modern peri-glacial features are widespread at higher elevations and include rock glaciers (e.g. Reference Johnson, Thackray and KirkJohnson and others, 2007; Reference SeligmanSeligman, 2009). Debris-mantled ice within rock glaciers has the potential to preserve climate records (e.g. Reference Clark, Clark and GillespieClark and others, 1994; Reference Konrad, Humphrey, Steig, Clark, Potter and PfefferKonrad and others, 1999) and cryo-ecologic microbial communities (e.g. Reference FlorentineFlorentine, 2011). In southwest Montana, rock glaciers are found above 2000 m a.s.l., where the climate is semi-arid and cold; the mean annual precipitation ranges from 25 to 183 cm and the annual mean of daily minimum temperature varies spatially from –13ºC to 1ºC (PRISM Group, http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu). Regional distribution of rock glaciers was assessed via Google Earth. The geomorphic identification of rock glaciers was defined by the following landform attributes: talusmantled, connected to a talus slope, having steep margins and above treeline. The presence of transverse ridges on the rock glacier was also noted; however, landforms with bulbous or non-regular ridges were not included in this group. Rock glaciers are located in previously glaciated terrain and are primarily northeast-facing (average 188) (Reference FlorentineFlorentine, 2011). Transverse ridge morphology is displayed in approximately one-third (125/383) of rock glaciers in the Beartooth Plateau, Absaroka, Gallatin and Madison ranges (Figs 1a and 2) (Reference FlorentineFlorentine, 2011), and it is recognized that this may include both active and inactive landforms.

Fig. 1.

(a) Study area in southwest Montana; arrow indicates the site of LPRG. (b) Hillshade lidar bare-earth 1 m DEM featuring northeast cirque of Lone Peak. Tram not visible due to bare-earth lidar. LPRG extends 1.7 km valleyward; the uppermost active segment is the focus of this study. (c) Uppermost active segment of LPRG illustrated by slope-characterized lidar data with geophysical transects. Longitudinal transect west-southwest to east-northeast; transverse transect south-southeast to north-northwest. The base station of Big Sky Resort tram and excavation site are indicated. Slope scale in degrees. (d) Transverse ridges on LPRG surface. Ridges trend across the field of view. View is toward rock glacier toe.

Fig. 2.

Two rock glaciers in southwest Montana. Arrows indicate regularly spaced transverse ridges at each site. (a) LPRG prior to tram construction. Aspect is northeast. (b) Absaroka Mountains. Photograph credits: (a) Taylor Middleton and (b) Christina Carr.

Lone Peak Rock Glacier

Lone Peak, located in the Madison Range of southwestern Montana (Fig. 1a), is representative of the topographic and geomorphic setting of the region’s rock glaciers. Its representative character was determined after comparison with 383 rock glaciers inventoried in the region (Reference FlorentineFlorentine, 2011). Lone Peak Rock Glacier (LPRG) (Fig. 1b) is located on the property of Big Sky Resort and situated in a northeast-facing cirque basin. LPRG is 1.7 km in length, ~60–150 m wide and ranges from 2600 to 3100 m a.s.l. The cirque headwall consists of Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, predominantly shales, and andesite, and the surface of LPRG is characterized by blocky porphyritic andesite talus, with a small percentage of angular siliceous siltstone talus generally <20 cm (Fig. 3a and b). Reference GoolsbyGoolsby (1972) divided LPRG into segments based on morphologic and stability assessments. The most active, uppermost segment has a slope of ~10º, a ~40º frontal scarp, and a series of arcuate transverse ridges separated by shallow (~2–3 m) furrows (Fig. 1c and d). The transverse ridges are convex toward the terminus of the active segment, and tend to be steeper toward the rock glacier head and shallower toward the terminus (Fig. 1c). Big Sky Resort constructed a ski tram base station in 1995 on a lower separate segment of the glacier just below the toe of the most active segment (Fig. 1c). During construction a borehole was drilled into the rock glacier and this revealed that the internal composition of LPRG was composed of a heterogeneous mixture of clean ice and frozen debris (Reference FlorentineFlorentine, 2011).

Fig. 3.

(a) Aerial view of LPRG taken during summer in the 1980s. (Photograph credit: Dave Lageson.) (b) Excavation pit ~2 m deep. Excavated material consisted of unconsolidated talus. (c) Clean bubble-rich ice encountered directly beneath unconsolidated talus. Upslope-dipping amber ice band illustrated. (d) Frozen debris encountered directly beneath clean ice.

Landform analysis

Measurements collected via GPS monitoring of the base of the tram at LPRG indicate downslope movement of ~20 cm a^–1 (Big Sky Resort, unpublished data). These velocity data are for a different segment of the rock glacier, which is thought to be less active than the active uppermost segment where transverse ridges are located. We therefore interpret this velocity as a minimum for the active segment.

Transverse ridges on the active segment at LPRG are well illustrated when characterized by slope angle (Fig. 1c). These transverse ridges will be referred to as surface features for subsequent comparison with subsurface features. The longitudinal profile of geophysical data, running west-southwest to east-northeast from the head of the rock glacier toward the toe, begins at one transverse ridge (feature 1) and cuts across nine prominent ridges (features 2–10) and four less prominent ridges (features 11–14) (Fig. 5). Prominent ridges are asymmetric, with steep slopes toward the headwall, and strike northwest to southeast, or roughly perpendicular to the longitudinal profile. Less prominent ridges are also asymmetric, though their upslope aspect may be distinguished by a flattening in slope as opposed to an actual reversal of slope from the ridge above. Hence two less prominent ridges (features 1 and 13) were measured with upslope faces (negative slope). Ridges are visible and roughly regular in plan-view maps of LPRG (Fig. 1c); however, in cross section the regularity of ridges is less apparent (Fig. 4a). The nine prominent transverse ridges (features 2–10) are separated by 7–16 m (mean value 11 ± 3 m, n = 9) and have upslope aspect slopes of 5–20% (mean value 11 ± 5%, n = 9) (Fig. 5a).

Fig. 5.

(a) Longitudinal surface elevation data with individual ridges (i.e. surface features) labeled 1–14. Lines illustrate upslope dip of each ridge. Ridges illustrated with dotted lines (1, 11–14) are not included in slope and distance statistics. Slopes and spacing of each feature are noted. (b) Longitudinal seismic refraction data illustrating surface and subsurface features. (c) Longitudinal GPR data with individual subsurface features labeled 1–14 to match surface features. Slopes and spacing of each feature are noted.

Depth of talus mantle: excavation and seismic refraction results

Excavations in the center of the uppermost segment of the rock glacier reveal a heterogeneous mixture of clean ice and frozen debris, specifically ~3 m of relatively unsorted angular talus and colluvium underlain by ~20 cm of clean ice, underlain by frozen debris of an unknown depth and thickness (Fig. 3c and d). The 20 cm clean-ice layer at ~3 m depth yielded samples that were bubble-rich and contained an amber ice band 10 cm thick and 0.1% debris by weight (Fig. 3c) (Reference FlorentineFlorentine, 2011).

Seismic refraction surveys from transverse and longitudinal profiles verified the presence of a frozen substrate at depth, buried under unconsolidated debris, throughout the profiles (Fig. 4a and b). Refraction velocities were determined using a plus–minus method. Refraction velocities were relatively consistent, with 400 m s^–1 detected for the upper layer and 3500 m s^–1 for the lower layer at a depth of 2–3 m. The velocity of the lower layer (3500 m s^–1) is slightly less than other observed refraction velocities for ice (Reference Hausmann, Krainer, Brückl and MostlerHausmann and others, 2007; Reference Shean and MarchantShean and Marchant, 2010) and is consistent for velocities observed for rock glaciers (Reference Steig, Fitzpatrick, Potter and ClarkPotter and others, 1998; Reference Leopold, Dethier, Völkel, Raab, Corson Rikert and CaineLeopold and others, 2008).

Internal structure: 100 MHz GPR results

100 MHz GPR data of the longitudinal profile of LPRG demonstrate upslope-dipping reflectors, which are evident to a depth of ~25 m (Fig. 4c). Nine of these reflectors, hereafter referred to as subsurface features, are prominent and particularly distinctive (features 2–10). These reflectors slope toward the rock glacier headwall with varying steepness ranging from 29% to 54% (mean value 42 ± 10%, n = 9), and the nine prominent reflectors are spaced at intervals ranging from 8 to 23 m (mean value 12 ± 5 m, n = 9) (Fig. 5c).

Transverse ridge formation models

Transverse ridges are common geomorphic features of rock glaciers and thus apparently record some prevalent process of debris accumulation (exogenous model) or ice flow (endogenous model). Transverse ridges are present at LPRG and other rock glaciers in the Northern Rockies of southwest Montana (33%, n = 383; Reference FlorentineFlorentine, 2011) as well as in many locations worldwide. Two competing models have been advanced for the origin of transverse ridges. Exogenous models call on quasi-periodic temporal fluctuations in supply of debris to the glacier surface to account for the quasi-periodic spatial pattern of transverse ridges (Reference BarschBarsch, 1996). Such models make several predictions for the morphology and spacing of topography on the rock glacier surface: (1) ridge spacing (d) should be related to glacier surface velocity (v) and the frequency of the debris supply cycle (f) by the simple functional relationship d = vf, although both v and f may vary with time; and (2) debris topography is unlikely to be in-phase with the underlying debris/ice contact.

Endogenous models relate transverse ridge topography to the internal dynamics of glacial flow (e.g. Reference WhiteWhite, 1971; Reference Loewenherz, Lawrence and WeaverLoewenherz and others, 1989; Reference Arenson, Hoelzle and SpringmanArenson and others, 2002; Reference Fukui, Sone, Strelin, Torielli and MoriFukui and others, 2007). In endogenous models, ridges and troughs correspond to spatial variations in glacial flow vectors, resulting in localized surface uplift. These models include internal thrust faulting (Reference Wahrhaftig and CoxWahrhaftig and Cox, 1959; Reference White, Giardino, Shroder and VitekWhite, 1987). Such models predict: (1) transverse ridge topography that is likely to be in-phase with the debris/ice contact; and (2) ridge location and spacing that correlate with the location and spacing of structures (e.g. shear zones) in the body of the glacier. Both these predictions are supported by geophysical data from LPRG.

Periodicity of surface features and the exogenous model

An exogenous origin of transverse ridges at LPRG, at least similar to annual ogives, seems unlikely given that exogenous model prediction of the relationship between landform velocity (v), ridge spacing (d) and debris supply cycle (f) does not match data from LPRG. Annual velocity data are available for the bottom tram station, and represent an approximate velocity (v ~ 0.2 m a^–1) for the active uppermost segment of LPRG where transverse ridges are well developed. Transverse ridge spacing has a mean value of 11 ± 3 m (n = 9). Considering an annual frequency of debris supply cycle (f = 1 year), d = vf is not true, i.e. annual deposition of debris at the headwall will not result in transverse ridges at the spacing observed at LPRG. The second model prediction for exogenous formation of transverse ridges is that surface debris topography and subsurface debris/ice contact topography are unlikely to be in-phase. Data from LPRG suggest that these topographic profiles are in-phase, supporting an endogenous process, which predicts a high likelihood of surface and subsurface phasing.

Thrust faulting and the endogenous model

We interpret subsurface structures detected by 100 MHz GPR data to be thrust faults or shear bands. Analogous GPR signatures at other rock glaciers and in glaciotectonically altered sediment and debris inclusions in glacier ice have been interpreted similarly as thrust planes (Reference Jakobsen and OvergaardJakobsen and Overgaard, 2002; Reference Woodward, Murray, Clark and StuartWoodward and others, 2003; Reference Sadura, Martini, Endres and WolfSadura and others, 2006; Reference Fukui, Sone, Strelin, Torielli, Mori and FujiiFukui and others, 2008; Reference Monnier, Camerlynck, Fejiba, Kinnard, Feuillet and DhemaiedMonnier and others, 2011). Thrusting occurs as a result of flattening or upslope steepening, such as a rollover, in underlying topography, as is common at the edge of mountain cirques (Reference Wahrhaftig and CoxWahrhaftig and Cox, 1959; Reference Ka¨a¨b, Gudmundsson, Hoelzle, Lewkowicz and AllardKa¨a¨b and others, 1998; Reference Leonard, Staab and WeaverLeonard and others, 2005). The cirque topography at LPRG suggests just such a flattening of terrain.

The geometries represented in both surface and subsur-face transverse profile data appear to be the result of interaction between fault planes. The transverse 100 MHz GPR profile suggests a synclinal bowl structure (Fig. 4d) that is similar to the structures observed in transverse sections of Arctic rock glaciers (Reference Fukui, Sone, Strelin, Torielli and MoriFukui and others, 2007, Reference Fukui, Sone, Strelin, Torielli, Mori and Fujii2008). These structures also occur in glacial settings with longitudinal flow and transverse compression (Reference Elconin and LaChapelleElconin and LaChapelle, 1997). However, transverse compression does not seem to be the explanation for the LPRG features, since the rock glacier is not connected with lateral cirque walls (Fig. 1b). The synclinal structures detected in the 100 MHz GPR radargram are interpreted to be the transverse expression of upslope-dipping reflectors detected in the longitudinal dimension. If we assume that the rock glacier is moving fastest in the center, the cross-sectional geometry of these transverse reflectors is consistent with the arcuate nature of transverse ridges in plan view.

The spacing of surface and subsurface features is similar (Figs 5 and 6). Figure 5 shows annotated topographic (Fig. 5a), seismic (Fig. 5b) and 100 MHz GPR (Fig. 5c) data, where 14 individual ridges are identified (Fig. 5a–c). Upslope-dipping reflectors in the subsurface 100 MHz GPR data are much more closely spaced toward the toe of the rock glacier such that individual features are difficult to identify. Coincidentally, topography at the surface becomes less prominently ridge-like, making individual features difficult to identify at the surface as well. Features 2–10 are presented in detrended surface topography and 100 MHz GPR data in Figure 5, where the spatial relationship between transverse ridges at the surface and reflectors interpreted to be thrust faults in the subsurface is apparent.

Fig. 6.

(a) Spacing, (b) distance along longitudinal profile and (c) slope of surface and subsurface features 2–10.

Heterogeneity of ice/debris and glaciotectonically altered sediment

Applying seismic velocities for glacial debris (V debris = 2000 m s^–1; Reference Sheriff and GeldartSheriff and Geldart, 1995), temperate ice (V _ice = 3750 m s^–1; Reference RöthlisbergerRöthlisberger, 1972) and the ice/rock mixture (V mixture = 3500 m s^–1; measured at LPRG), we apply Wyllie’s time average equation for porous materials to determine percent debris of the ice body at LPRG (Reference Wyllie, Gregory and GardnerWyllie and others, 1958):

or

This results in a percent debris value (V debris) of 14% and a percent ice value (V _ice) of 86%. However, when using the same measured value for longitudinal seismic wave velocity (V _p = 3500 m s^–1; measured at LPRG) in Reference MüllerMüller’s (1943) empirically derived equation for permafrost ice bodies (Reference Croce and MilanaCroce and Milana, 2002),

a debris concentration of ~45% and ice concentration (P) of ~55% results. Both methods indicate that LPRG is likely to contain a considerable proportion of ice, ranging from 55% to 86%.

Transverse ridges, both at LPRG and other rock glaciers, seem to be associated with heterogeneous internal composition. We are unable to determine that heterogeneous composition is necessary to develop transverse ridges; however, transverse ridges have been observed for numerous rock glaciers where heterogeneous composition is present (Table 1). Analogue experiments that model rock glacier internal deformation using Xanthan gum, sand and gravel have shown that transverse ridges are more likely to develop when heterogeneous materials are present (Reference Ka¨a¨b and WeberKa¨a¨b and Weber, 2004). Materials with heterogeneous viscosity and density yielded strong folding, while homogeneous materials yielded either no or slight folding (Reference Ka¨a¨b and WeberKa¨a¨b and Weber, 2004). Other model-derived data indicate that shearing occurs in ice-rich layers, while debris-rich layers respond to comparable stresses via brittle deformation (Reference Moore, Iverson and CohenMoore and others, 2010).

Table 1

Summary of selected studies on rock glacier internal composition, structure and transverse ridges

The interpretation of subsurface features as thrust planes does not require thrusting throughout the rock glacier ice body (e.g. thrusting wherein debris layers are sourced from the glacier bed). The presence of englacial debris-rich layers could be due to original glacier stratigraphy, which has been buried and altered at depth. The upslope-dipping reflectors at LPRG, interpreted as thrust faults, are closer together and almost indistinguishable toward the toe (Fig. 5c). Similar imbricate thrust faulting has been observed in glaciotectonically altered and glacially entrained sediment (Reference Bennett, Hambrey, Huddart and GhienneBennett and others, 1996, 1999; Reference PykePyke and others, 2002; Reference Murray and BoothMurray and Booth, 2010). Thrust faulting within glaciotectonically altered sediment observed at the Kongsvegen/Kronebreen tidewater glacier complex in Svalbard is described in detail by Reference Bennett, Hambrey, Huddart and GhienneBennett and others (1996, Reference Bennett, Hambrey, Huddart, Glasser and Crawford1999). Englacial thrusts are steeper (25–408) than proglacial thrusts (15–308) observed in a thrust-moraine system on Ossian Sarsfjellet (Reference Bennett, Hambrey, Huddart and GhienneBennett and others, 1996, Reference Bennett, Hambrey, Huddart, Glasser and Crawford1999). Similarly, the subsurface structures at LPRG interpreted as englacial thrusts range from 12º to 28º, and are steeper than the surface expression of these thrusts (2–11º) (Fig. 6).

Glaciotectonically altered sediment at Matanuska Glacier, Alaska, demonstrates thick-skinned-style glaciotectonics, where an ice-cored moraine complex buried in overlying unconsolidated sediment deforms due to the readvance of active ice (Reference PykePyke and others, 2002). Overlying unconsolidated sediment is affected by the deformation of the ice-cored moraine complex beneath it, resulting in thrust features at the surface (Reference PykePyke and others, 2002). This is similar to the way in which the unconsolidated talus mantle at LPRG is affected by the deformation of the frozen ice core beneath.

Stress and strain rate

Stress and strain-rate analysis would improve our understanding of deformation mechanics within complex rock glacier ice bodies. However, with the limited data to hand we can only outline first-order approximations for basal shear stress and strain rate at LPRG. There are inherent caveats to such calculations, the major one being that the calculations are for the entire rock glacier body rather than discrete layers within it. Given these caveats, we proceed by considering basal shear stress (σ) as defined by

and density derived from our seismic data, yielding

where the density of ice (ρ_ice) is 967 kg m^–3 and the density of debris (ρ debris) is 2700 kg m^–3. Surface slope (α) is approximated based on measurements taken in the field (~10º), and height is based on maximum penetration depth of 25 MHz GPR data (60 m). The above calculation of density (ρ) yields 1747 kg m^–3. Using these data and g = 9.8 m s^–2, the calculated value for basal shear stress () at LPRG is 179 kPa. The same calculation using our alternative density estimate (86% ice, 14% debris; Reference Wyllie, Gregory and GardnerWyllie and others, 1958) yields σ = 124 kPa. We re-emphasize that we are estimating the density of the ice/rock mixture and rock glacier thickness based on seismic refraction and GPR results.

We can approximate strain rate by considering the kinematics of the rock glacier body

where (dy /dx) /dt is strain rate, dx /dt = 0.2 m a^–1 is an approximate velocity and dy = 60 m is approximate thickness. The resulting strain-rate estimate for LPRG is 10^–10 s^–1. The range of basal shear stress (124–179 kPa) and our approximate strain-rate (10^–10 s^–1) calculations are consistent with experimental results from studies on rock glacier ice response to triaxial stress conditions, where stress tests in the range 124–179 kPa yielded strain rates of 10^–9 s^–1 (Reference Arenson and SpringmanArenson and Springman, 2005), and primary creep strain rates of 10^–7–10^–11 s^–1 for rock glacier pressuremeter tests in situ (Reference Arenson, Springman, Hawkins, Phillips, Springman and ArensonArenson and others, 2003).