Clast fabric in relict periglacial colluvium, Salamanca Re-Entrant, southwestern New York, USA

Samples of macrofabric data obtained from colluvial deposits near the late- Wisconsinan glacial margin display widely divergent characteristics. Those from highly weathered and jointed sandstone plot as girdle distributions. S amples from red colluvium of early-Wisconsinan age form moderately strong c lusters. Fabrics from shallow depth in medium-textured brow. colluvium of l ate-Wisconsinan age generally have modes aligned with the local slope but a re weak, and appear to have been modified by frost heaving, Clasts in the b asal layers of an overlying loess unit were emplaced by frost heaving from the brown colluvium and have very weak or uniform fabrics. particle shape e xerts an influence on fabric strength in the brown colluvium, with samples composed of more elongated clasts displaying stronger fabrics. Fabrics from near-surface deposits show generally weaker shape and strength characteris tics and higher inclinations than those at depth. Calculated seasonal frost penetration is consistent with the depth to which weaker, more steeply inc lined fabrics are found, Sampling in relict periglacial deposits should be performed only below the level of disturbance by seasonal frost.