Stratigraphy, Non-Marine Mollusks, and Radiometric Dates from Quaternary Deposits in the Kotzebue Sound Area, Western Alaska

Abstract

A radiometrically dated sequence of interbedded marine and non-marine Quaternary sediments in the Kotzebue Sound area records marine transgressions of Yarmouth and Sangamon age, glaciations of Illinoian and Wisconsin age, and two periods (Sangamon and late Wisconsin to early Recent) when the climate was warmer than at present. Non-marine molluscan faunas from beds of late Illinoian to Recent age show little significant change. $Thorium ^{230}-Uranium^{238}$ ages of $170,000 \pm 17,000$ and $175,000 \pm 16,000$ years were determined on shells from the marine sediments of Yarmouth age.