Late Quaternary foraminiferal stratigraphy from western Svalbard

Abstract

In the lower part of sections at Skilvika and Linneelva, western Svalbard, marine silts and sands characterized by infinite radiocarbon ages (<40,000 BP) on shells are found. These sediments are covered by at least one basal till of Late Weichselian age. The till is overlain by marine sediments from the last deglaciation (12,800‐10,000 BP) which contain shallow‐water, subarctic foraminiferal assemblages, similar to modern near‐glacial faunas from western Svalbard. The most common foraminifera in all zones in the sub‐till sediments are Cassidulina reniforme, Astrononion gallowayi and/or Elphidium excavatum. The richest zones at both localities are found in the sub‐till units and contain more than 20 foraminiferal species, including some boreal‐arctic species. These faunal assemblages are similar to the living faunas on the west coast of Svalbard. Faunas from the postglacial climatic optimum are not yet described. We suggest that the foraminiferal assemblages in the sub‐till sediment reflect Early or Middle Weichselian interstadial environments, although an Eemian interglacial cannot be excluded.