Outwash – Material, chiefly sand, gravel and clay, deposited by meltwater streams in front of and underneath a glacier

NOTE 1:

The material is sorted and rounded by the water action.

NOTE 2:

Meltwater is water released by the melting snow or ice including glacial ice.

To remember the meaning of the term Outwash, use the following mnemonic:

"Out of my washing (outwash) machine now! You shouldn't put sand and gravel in it."

Glacial outwash is the sand, gravel and other materials deposited by running meltwater – that is, the water leaving the glacier as temperature rises. Heavier particles of sand and gravel are deposited in the glaciated valley. The individual gravel stones are smoothed and rounded by their journey. Lighter, finer particles – for instance, clay – are transported further away from the glacier and deposited in what is known as the outwash plain.