A lithostratigraphy of Weichselian glacial and interstadial deposits in Denmark

Abstract

A lithostratigraphic model of Weichselian tills and inter-till deposits in Denmark is erected. Deposits comprise 1) Till, other diamicts and meltwater sediments deposited during glaciated stadials and 2) Interstadial and stadial fluvial, lacustrine and marine sediments deposited under climatic ameliorations and ice free conditions. Stratigraphic successions are correlated using lithological and palaeoecological evidence and they are linked to the marine sequences in northern Denmark named the Skærumhede series. Three stadials with one or more glaciation events succeeding Eemian interglacial conditions have been recognized. The oldest, Ristinge stadial, is most likely from the early Middle Weichselian situated between the Odderade and Moershoofd interstadials. It comprises The Ristinge, Ringshøj and Lovns tills of Baltic origin is found in the eastern and central parts of Denmark. The post-Hengelo, Klintholm stadial from the late Middle Weichselian, is represented by the Baltic Klintholm till found in the easternmost part of the country and possibly the Esrum diamicton in the buried Esrum valley belong to this stadial. The post-Sandnes interstadial, Late Weichselian Jylland stadial comprise the Kattegat Till of Norwegian provenance is found in northern Denmark. It is followed by the Mid Danish, Grenå, Fårup, Store Klinthøj, Himmerland tills of middle Swedish origin, and deposited by the ice-stream which reached the Main Stationary Line from northeasterly directions. The East Jylland and North Sjælland tills of respectively Baltic and Swedish provenance overlie the former tills in eastern Denmark. These are succeeded by the Bælthav Till of Baltic origin which is confined to the Danish islands. Late glacial deposits from the Bølling-Allerød oscillation comprises the upper boundary for Weichselian deposits. The compilation of the stratigraphic model serves the purpose of combining and bringing forward regional and local stratigraphic studies from the past decades and to set up a frame-work for dating the age and duration individual glaciation events and interstadials.