Pleistocene sediments in the Shapkina River valley (Bol’shaya Zemlya Tundra)

Abstract

Facies-genetic and stratigraphic subdivision of the Quaternary sequence in the Shapkina River valley has been accomplished. The riverbank shows outcrops of three glacial complexes with different mineralogical-petrographic compositions and structural characteristics, which can be correlated and stratificated. Datings of intermoraine horizons (alluvial, marine, lacustrine, and lacustrine-boggy sediments) have been based on the palynological and paleomicrotheriological data. The middle Neopleistocene section can be divided into two till horizons corresponding to two autonomous glaciations (Pechora and Vychegda). They are separated by a member of subaqueous Rodionov sediments. The Pechora till formed in the course of motions of glaciers from the northeast. Glacial horizons are mainly composed of the Vychegda till delivered from the Northwest terrigenous provenance. Lithology of the upper Neopleistocene Polyarnyi till testifies to its formation in the upper course of the river from material delivered from the Northeast terrigenous-mineralogical provenance in the upper course of the river and from Fennoscandian glaciation center in the lower course of the river. The paper presents the first lithological investigation and substantiation of genesis of various facies of Neopleistocene intermoraine marine sediments (sediments of the beach and fore-beach zones and shallow-water shelf).