The term 'drift' is used to describe the mixture of rocks, sand, and clay deposited by glaciers, encompassing both till and outwash. These materials can include various-sized clasts and sediment, which are often poorly sorted due to the nature of glacial movement and melting.
The collective term for all rock, sand, and clay that is deposited by a glacier as either till or outwash is drift. Glaciers carry a mixture of materials ranging from large boulders to fine particles. As they move, they erode underlying rock surfaces and transport this geological detritus, eventually depositing it as glacial drift. This drift can include various-sized clasts and sediment, such as those found in conglomerate, breccia, sandstone, and shale.
The process of deposition can occur directly from the ice (till) or from meltwater flowing from the glacier (outwash), leading to poorly sorted deposits with variable grain sizes.