3-D Modelling of Quaternary Sediments Within the Dundas Valley, Hamilton, Ontario Using ROCKWORKS 2002

Abstract

<p> The Dundas Valley is a deep bedrock valley underlying the Hamilton-Wentworth region of southern Ontario that has been infilled with up to 180m of Quaternary sediment. These sediments contain a valuable record of past environmental change, as well as control groundwater and contaminant migration pathways throughout the region. Unfortunately, the nature, origin and spatial distribution of sedimentary units comprising the infill are poorly understood. This thesis demonstrates the use of 3-D modeling of subsurface geological data obtained from water well and borehole records, engineering and construction reports to delineate the form and geometry of the sedimentary infill of the Dundas Valley. ROCKWORKS 2002 is used to analyze and model over 2000 data points and create a variety of 3-D images used as an aid to the interpretation of the late Quaternary geological history of the study area. </p> <p> Sediments identified within the valley include fine-grained diamicts, clays, silty clays, sands, gravels and silty sands. These sediment types are grouped into five stratigraphic units that record changing environmental conditions during the late Quaternary. Unit 1 represents the eroded Paleozoic bedrock surface and is overlain by a patchy veneer of sandy gravel (Unit 2), probably deposited under fluvial or shallow lacustrine conditions. Fine-grained deposits of Unit 3 record glacially-influenced lacustrine deposition in the Dundas Valley, possibly during a subsequent episode of ice advance. Unit 4 consists of coarse-grained nearshore deposits associated with the development of post-glacial Lake Iroquois and uppermost silts and sands of Unit 5 record the development of protected lagoonal conditions at the western end of the Ontario basin. </p> <p> The 3-D images of the Dundas Valley infill are also used to identify and delineate the geometry of aquifers and aquitards and to help predict potential directions of groundwater flow and potential contaminant movement. </p>