Pleistocene stratigraphy of the Saskatoon area, Saskatchewan, Canada: an update

Abstract

Pleistocene deposits in the Saskatoon area are divided into the Sutherland and Saskatoon groups. The Sutherland Group is divided into the Mennon, Dundurn, and Warman formations, and the Saskatoon Group is divided into the Floral and Battleford formations. The Floral Formation is subdivided into the lower till, the Riddell Member, and the upper till. Each formation is composed of a sequence of deposits, including basal proglacial sediment, till, upper proglacial sediment, and nonglacial sediment. Each formation is defined primarily on the basis of carbonate content and stratigraphic position of its till, and commonly it is bounded by weathered zones and (or) nonglacial sediments. The Sutherland Group is pre-Illinoian in age, and the lower till of the Floral Formation is Illinoian in age. The Riddell Member, between the lower and upper tills of the Floral Formation, is late Rancholabrean, probably Sangamon, in age. Radiocarbon ages of sediments lying between the upper till of the Floral Formation (Early Wisconsin) and the Battleford Formation (Late Wisconsin) range from more than 38 000 to 18 000 BP. The dissipating ice sheet margin stood in the vicinity of Saskatoon about 12 000 BP.