CORRELATION OF FLUVIAL TERRACES NEAR EVANSVILLE, INDIANA

Two non-paired fluvial terraces accompany modern floodplain of the Ohio River near Evansville, Indiana. Research concerning fluvial terraces locally has been with emphasis on aggregate resources availability and late Pleistocene relative chronology. Local fluvial terraces match description of Tazewell and Cary valley train deposits upstream in the Owensboro, KY area. Cary deposits have not been fully researched downstream from Evansville, IN. Terraces of Ohio River alluviated section are composed of Wisconsin age glacial valley train deposits known as Tazewell and post-Tazewell Cary sediments. The older and topographically higher Tazewell terrace occurs throughout the Ohio River valley. A definitive scarp separates Tazewell terrace 10 feet higher than the Cary terrace. Modern floodplain sediment lies directly adjacent to Cary terraces. Locally, topographic evidence separating Floodplain and low terrace is slight to completely obscure. Although previous research suggests a lack of Cary terrace downstream from Evansville, Soil Survey manuals show evidence-suggesting soil downstream correlating with soils developed on known Cary terrace of Vanderburgh County. Soil data collected for this research represent a difference of soil age and development between the modern floodplain, soil immediately adjacent, and soil on an upper terrace for both Vanderburgh and Posey Counties. Using soils as a correlation tool in conjunction with topographic evidence, terrace surfaces in Vanderburgh County correlate to those of Posey County.