Proposed Extent of Late Wisconsin Laurentide Ice on Eastern Baffin Island

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 1974 Proposed Extent of Late Wisconsin Laurentide Ice on Eastern Baffin Island Gifford H. Miller; Gifford H. Miller 1Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80302 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Arthur S. Dyke Arthur S. Dyke 2Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Department of Geography, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80302 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1974) 2 (3): 125–130. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1974)2<125:PEOLWL>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Gifford H. Miller, Arthur S. Dyke; Proposed Extent of Late Wisconsin Laurentide Ice on Eastern Baffin Island. Geology 1974;; 2 (3): 125–130. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1974)2<125:PEOLWL>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The apparent outer limit of late Wisconsin Laurentide ice on eastern Baffin Island (roughly correlative with the “classical” Wisconsin of the southern Laurentide margin) is delimited in broad terms on the distal side by the presence of undisturbed glaciomarine deposits for which associated molluscan fauna have 14C ages beyond the useful radiocarbon age range. This is supported by the distribution of drowned cirques, submerged late Wisconsin glaciomarine deltas, moraines from local ice sources of comparable age, and the absence of main fiord ice moraines. Within this maximum outer limit of late Wisconsin glaciation, only the previously mapped Cockburn Moraine System is associated with marine deposits of finite 14C age. This system forms a largely continuous and prominent end and lateral moraine overlying till showing extensive tundra polygon development, and it is associated with ice-contact raised marine features dating between 7,500 and 8,500 14C yr B.P. A map depicting the late Wisconsin ice margin based on these criteria shows that most of the eastern coastal margin of Baffin Island remained ice free throughout the last glacial stade (approximately 8,000 to 25,000? yr B.P.). This interpretation is supported by the occurrence of deposits dated more than 25,000 yr B.P., 30 to 60 km inland from the outer coast, which have not been glacially overridden; the pattern of postglacial isostatic uplift since 8,000 yr B.P.; and the complete absence of features dating between 10,500 and 25,000 yr B.P., despite more than 160 finite dates. Of 66 marine limit dates from the region, 44 percent lie between 7,500 and 8,500 yr B.P., whereas less than 8 percent are between 9,000 and 10,500 yr old. A consideration of the pattern of atmospheric circulation at the last glacial maximum suggests that few cyclonic disturbances penetrated the North American Arctic and that consequent decreased precipitation allowed only minimal glacial expansion. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.