On the age of the young morainic morphology in the area ascribed to the maximum extent of the Weichselian glaciation in north-eastern Germany

Abstract

In this case study, the first numerical ages from the area ascribed to the maximum extent of the Weichselian glaciation in north-eastern Germany are presented. The ages were derived from fluvioglacial (sandur) sediments of the Luckenwalde area using Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating techniques for the dating of quartz. The ages reveal a primary formation of the Luckenwalde outwash plain in the Warthe stage of the Saalian glaciation (130–150 ka) and a limited reworking of the sediments mainly linked to meltwater activity during the Weichselian glaciation. Due to the insufficient zeroing of the OSL signal of the sediments, the timing of that event can only be determined by a maximum age of around 35 ka. Nevertheless this age is in accordance with results from the Beelitz outwash cone, indicating an ice advance in MIS 2. The results of the luminescence measurements are supported by additional stratigraphical and petrographical findings. It is likely that a considerable number of landforms attributed to the Weichselian glaciation are originally of Saalian age, only partly overridden by the Weichselian glaciation but not reshaped by this process. With transformation of the relief mainly linked to meltwater processes, this implies a very thin, probably warm-based ice cover of a fast paced and short lived Weichselian ice advance adapting to a pronounced Saalian morphology.