Preconsolidation pressures in intertill glaciolacustrine clay near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan

Abstract

Soft, intertill, glaciolacustrine clays are of concern for stability of slopes and foundations. An intertill clay deposit between 32 and 54 m below the surface was continuously cored. Index properties were determined for 46 samples and 10 samples were tested on the oedometer. Stratigraphic evidence indicates that the glaciolacustrine clay (Blaine Lake Member), lying between the till of the Sutherland and Saskatoon groups, was glaciated three times. However, preconsolidation pressures of this intertill clay show the degree of consolidation is less than 20% based on a total stress from an estimated ice thickness extrapolated from the Cypress Hills. This low preconsolidation pressure suggests there was insufficient time for dissipation of excess pore-water pressure created by thickening of the advancing glacier. Key words: preconsolidation pressure, excess pore-water pressure, glaciers, intertill clay.