Quaternary correlations in Arctic Canada

Abstract

In the Hudson Bay/James Bay Lowlands, along the coasts of Banks Island, and along the eastern coast of Baffin Island are continuous and extensive sections in Quaternary sediments. These sections are rich in marine fossils, buried peats and soils and contain a wide variety of glaciagenic sediments together with glacial marine units and littoral deposits. Lake muds are also fairly common. All three areas possess very long records that may extend to the Early Quaternary and Pliocene. The events of the last glaciation (Wisconsinan, Foxe, Amundsen) are interpreted in terms of lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and aminostratigraphy. Relative and ‘absolute’ dating control is provided by radiocarbon dating of events that span the last 50 ka, and in particular the last 11 ka, and some age control is also provided by several U-series dates on marine molluscs. Regional correlations are based on comparisons of amino acid ratios from marine shells. Suggested correlations during the last glaciation (Wisconsinan, Foxe, Amundsen) are: ka Banks Island Hudson Bay Lowland Baffin Island 8 Tyrrell Sea sediments Inugsuin regression 10 Russell Stade Upper tills Baffinland Stade 40 ? Friday Creek sediments Iron Stand event Till ? 80 ? Fawn River gravels Quajon Interstade M'Clure Stade Adam till Ayr Lakde Stade 120 Cape Collinson Interglaciation Missinaibi Formation Kogalu/Cape Broughton Interglaciation